Programs
Our Team
.jpg)
MATT DEKTAS,
Founder and CEO
Founded in 2015, CTF has grown to a National Leader in using Tennis and education to positively impact lives. Matt's original vision was to use CTF to help families afford the historically high costs of tennis training. He never imagined it would turn into the multi-faceted service organization that it has become today. Matt is excited to use the second half of his 25 year tennis career to do more for Cincinnati.
NIKKI CIOFFI,
Executive Director
After joining CTF in 2019, Nikki has worked hard to develop, organize, and execute our next phase of growth. She brings 10 years of corporate experience and another 6 years developing individuals as an Adjunct Instructor at a local college. She is passionate about sharing her professional experience to impact Cincinnati communities.
BRIAN SCHUBERT
Senior Director of Player Development
Coach Brian has been voted the USPTA Midwest Coach of the Year severaltimes. He has coached over 200 NCAA athletes and helped to develop numerous National Champions and Professionals.
DAN KRONAUGE
Senior Technical Director
Dan is a highly accomplished tennis coach and former professional player who has coached 25 State champions and helped more than one hundred Athletes earn tennis scholarships. As a junior he was ranked #57 nationally, reached the round of 32 at The NATS at the ZOO, and won a Division I State Double title. At Ball State University earned All-American honors, was a member of the Rolex Collegiate All-Star Team after winning the All-American Volvo National Doubles title, and advanced to the doubles semi-finals and the singles quarterfinals at National Indoors. He was ranked as high as #1 in doubles and #18 in singles and they were #20 as a team in the NCAA and was inducted into the Ball State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. On the ATP tour he reached a career high of 175 and played the main draw of The Cincinnati Open in 1996. After winning 7 Straight Met doubles titles he was inducted into the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of fame in 2011.
BRAD SEYMOUR
Junior Development Lead Coach
Brad brings over a decade of experience coaching and mentoring players. He was honored in 2016 as Ohio Tennis Professional of the Year. His Passion lies in developing young athletes into confident, skilled tennis players- both on and off the court. He believes in building strong fundamentals, fostering discipline, and instilling a lifelong love for the game.
Whether training beginners or performance competitive players, Brad's goal is to help every athlete reach their full potential while enjoying the journey.
%20-%20Copy.jpg)
ASHER HIRSCH
Academy Coach
As a former student of Coach Matt and Coach Brian, Coach Asher has come full circle. He was a 2-time state of Ohio singles champion before competing collegiately at the University of Illinois. He achieved a UTR of 13+ and helped the Illini tennis team reach a high of #3 in the country. With a passion for inclusivity, he firmly believes in breaking down barriers so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the sport of tennis without limitations!
LAURA OVERBECK,
Schools and Community Manager
Laura is a management and logistics professional with a passion for working with youth. She has coached tennis in the Cincinnati area for 8 years and worked to help student athletes on and off the court. She is excited to help transform lives and build bridges among Cincinnati's diverse communities.
NIKI SHEKARAN
Education Team
Niki is a lifelong tennis player. She has always had a passion for working with kids and being a part of something that is bigger than myself. Niki graduated with a degree in Montessori elementary education and currently work for Cincinnati Public Schools.
She was drawn to work with CTF because of their mission to grow the sport of tennis and make it as accessible as possible. It is so rewarding to see our athletes grow on and off the court and gain confidence in who they are as a person and athlete.
ZACK SIKORA,
Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis
Zack, born with Spina Bifida, was on the junior national USTA wheelchair tennis team and worked his way up to become the #1 junior wheelchair tennis player in the US. In 2019 Zack helped kick off our adult wheelchair tennis clinics. That program expanded to juniors. Now, Zack also leads the adaptive, adaptive standup and blind and visually impaired tennis clinics.
Dr. Joe Combs,
Team Trainer
Dr. Joe is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in working with rotational athletes. He earned his first personal training certification at age 18 and has since added more than 10 advanced credentials in sports performance and rehabilitation. His background includes three years of experience in a motion analysis lab, presenting at the Ohio Physical Therapy Association conference, and founding his own training facility. Today, his work centers on maximizing performance and reducing injuries for golf and tennis athletes of all ages, from youth players to seasoned adults. Known for being an open book, Dr. Joe encourages his athletes to ask questions and engage fully in their development.