The Black History Month spotlight is shining this week on Torean King from Columbus. Coach King, a certified instructor for the Magnolia Tennis Club in Columbus and a volunteer assistant coach at the Mississippi University for Women, is new to coaching himself, but has been around both the sport and instruction since he could walk. Recently, Coach King was available to share his tennis journey with USTA Mississippi.

1. How did you get started playing tennis?

I got started playing tennis back when I was around 7 or 8 years old. My dad starting playing with his friends so I would always go to the courts with him and since the I fell in love with the sport. King’s parents, Troy and Tonya, currently the head tennis coaches for Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, would drive me around the Golden Triangle to play wherever he could in leagues and competitive matches. Eventually, the travel extended to tournaments through his high school years, and then at the junior college level.

1. Who was the “influencer” that got you started?

My parents and Crayton Coleman were the ones that got me started playing tennis. In fact, my dad and I played in leagues together from the time I was eight until I graduated high school.

2. In what ways has tennis made a positive impact on your life?

Tennis has made a positive impact on my life in so many ways. First I’ve met a lot of great people and a lot of friends. Tennis has enabled me to receive two scholarships to play college tennis. Tennis has taught me so many life lessons like when things are not going your way you just don’t give up.

3. What do you think is great about the programs you build in Columbus?

The great thing about the programs in Columbus is the environment and family like vibe you get from being around the junior players and adults.

4. What made you want to go from being a player to being a volunteer or coach?

I honestly never thought about being a coach until my last two years in college at coastal Alabama when my former coach Kouri Allen sat me down one day in his office and we were just talking about my future and said to me “TK, one day you can be a good coach” He told me the way I interact with players and the way I break the technical and strategy part of tennis was a gift. And, now, with USTA Mississippi, my role in tennis has become a bit more administrative as I organize teams, leagues and camps for local kids (like JTT), as well as continuing my own coaching duties with MUW and private lessons.

6. Describe the importance of volunteers in tennis and what you’d like to get out of volunteering

I think the importance of volunteers in tennis is that it really shows how much you love coaching and tennis because you’re not getting paid just pure love for the game. My time being the volunteer assistant coach for the MUW tennis team has demonstrated my willingness to grow as a coach by building relationships with the players and expanding my knowledge of the game I have played for all these years.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

To all players and coaches never stop dreaming and never let anybody tell what you can’t do something when they doubt you! When people are skeptical, it gives me that extra motivation to prove them wrong!