June Captains of the Month!
Meet Jacob Stanley, JTT Captain of the Month and Donna Matthews, Adult League Captain of the Month!
Jacob Stanley has been a dedicated captain of the Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program for the past four years. His journey into leadership began as a high school tennis coach with a passion for providing young players with more opportunities to compete beyond MSHSAA events. Initially encouraging parents to captain teams, he eventually took on the role himself to better serve his players.
Hailing from Belmont, Mississippi, Jacob has spent over a decade teaching and coaching in his hometown. He and his wife, Hannah, have been married for eight years and are proud parents to two children. Their daughter, Maisyn, age 5, is just starting her tennis journey and will begin Kindergarten this August, while their son, Maverick, age 3, is showing early interest in the game.
In addition to captaining two JTT teams annually, Jacob serves as a Community Coordinator for the Northeast Mississippi Community Tennis Association. In this role, he organizes and oversees several Ready to Rally programs, promoting youth tennis in the community.
An avid player himself, Jacob enjoys playing tennis when time permits and has participated in USTA leagues, including managing the local social league.
His tennis idols include Roger Federer, his all-time favorite, and current stars Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff, whom he admires for their talent and sportsmanship.
Donna Matthews grew up in Gulfport MS. She has been a member of Bayou Bluff for over 15 years and has enjoyed playing league tennis, as well as captaining several teams. She has two daughters, her eldest is a civil engineer with Chiniche Engineering in Bay St. Louis, and her youngest is at Ole Miss studying law and will graduate in May 2025.
I started playing tennis as an extracurricular activity after my children were born. I started taking lessons with Toby Fasth at Gulf Coast Tennis Club and then joined Bayou Bluff when Toby went to teach at BBTC.
After her children were born Donna and a co-worker decided to take lessons together, and quickly developed a love for the game. They also enjoyed meeting other players, which made the experience even more rewarding.
“Tennis is more than just a sport—it’s a great way to meet new people, stay active, and build lasting friendships. It’s a timeless game that allows players to continue improving, competing, and participating in tournaments at any stage of life” shares Donna.
Donna first started captaining teams at the encouragement of Toby Fasth. Over time, she saw the need for more captains at Bayou Bluff, given the large number of players. She wanted to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to play, so she took on the role for both men's and women's leagues.
Donna says “I believe in fostering a team environment where players of all levels can improve together. We regularly practice on weekends, and we’ve also taken lessons from the pros at BBTC. Their insights and expertise have been invaluable in helping our teams grow and succeed.”
Donna has been a league captain 18 total years. In 2024 she captained 19 teams on the Gulf Coast, the most of any captain. In her tenure as a captain she has captained 116 teams!
