Our staff includes USPTA professionals, university, and high school coaches, crrent and former All-American players and collegiate players. All instructors are trained in tennis teaching methods, first-aid, human relations, and counseling. They are known for their high energy levels, outgoing personalities, and positive reinforcement skills. A student/teacher ratio of 4:1 ensures individual attention.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 OPEN THIS NOVEMBER! STAY TUNED!
Staff
CAL CARLSON
Assistant Director - Operations
NEAL HAGBERG
Director
LIZ RETZLAFF
Assistant Director - Tennis
Educational Tennis Instructors
Tennis & Life Camps employs 35-40 summer tennis coaches over the summer. At least one year of college is required and a UTR of 5 and above is preferred. A 4.5 playing ability and high school varsity experience are required. Varsity college playing experience and previous tennis teaching experience are recommended. Exposure to tennis educational materials and previous coaching are valuable. Previous counseling, leadership, music, and public speaking experience strengthen the resume. The job averages 59 hours per week (Monday-Sunday) of tennis teaching and non-tennis teaching responsibilities. The first-year staff starting salary is $4700 + room and board. Additional stipends available for dorm counseling and stringing. All staff stay on campus in apartments and meals in the Gustavus Dining Service are provided.
Other responsibilities besides teaching tennis include:
Eating meals with campers
Participating in variety shows, skits, and social hours with campers
Greeting campers and their parents
Attending staff meetings.
Fringe benefits include tennis instruction during off hours, ball machine access, deeply discounted tennis equipment, indoor court time, and use of other campus facilities.
Digital Media Coordinators
Tennis & Life Camps employs three Digital Media Coordinators over the summer. This position distributes Tennis & Life Camps' media in a variety of ways, monitoring and managing all forms of social media, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as capturing and editing photos and videos of campers and staff.
The job averages 49 hours per week (Monday-Sunday). The first-year staff starting wage is $11.00/hr + room and board. On campus apartment housing and meals in the Gustavus Dining Service are provided. No health or retirement benefits are included.
Fringe benefits include tennis instruction during off hours, ball machine access, indoor court time, and use of other campus facilities.
Operations Assistants
Tennis & Life Camps employs two Operations Assistants over the summer. As an Operations Assistant will need to meticulously set up camp, run reports, manage our camp Pro Shop, and direct check-in/check-out, among other duties.
The job averages 49 hours per week (Monday-Sunday). The first-year staff starting wage is $11.00/hr + room and board. On campus apartment housing and meals in the Gustavus Dining Service are provided. No health or retirement benefits are included.
Fringe benefits include tennis instruction during off hours, ball machine access, indoor court time, and use of other campus facilities.
STAFF FAQs
Typically our instructors have completed one year of college before becoming a TLC staff member. Most instructors are varsity collegiate players with a UTR of 5 or above. Many are interested in and have experience working with youth, currently play or played tennis growing up, and are interested in coaching or teaching. Others join camp for their own personal and professional growth and dedication to the mission of TLC.
Staff are housed in the College View Apartments on campus which are adjacent to the Brown Tennis Complex. There are typically 4 staff members per apartment. Each apartment has two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. Apartments come with a couch, chair, and table and each bedroom includes beds, desks and desk chairs.
Staff members will be dorm counselors for junior camps on a rotating basis. There are typically 6 dorm counselors for each junior camp and staff members receive a $20/night stipend each camp they dorm counsel. Dorm counselors are responsible for bringing campers to breakfast each morning, making sure campers are in their rooms by lights out, and creating a sense of community with their section.
Yes, staff members are housed in the College View Apartments and all meals are included except for Sunday evening when staff members are on their break.
Staff members are granted three days paid leave which can be requested on a first come first serve basis. Additional time off may be allowed after discussions with the leadership staff.
There are two camps per week which run Monday-Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening-Sunday afternoon. Each camp consists of two full days of activities and two half days.
There are three different types of camps that occur each summer: junior, adult, and family camps. Campers can be as young as 7 years old for family camp. Junior campers range from 11-18, adult campers are ages 18 and above, and family camper ages are from 7 and above.
Yes, instructors are able to use the tennis facilities and other facilities on campus when they are not being used by camps.
Camp runs from 8:00 am - 7:30 pm each day. There are additional activities at night that staff members are required to attend on certain days. Staff members will receive approximately a 2 hour break at some point during the day. Each camp is structured so that each staff member will have a shorter day where they will be done around 4:10pm and a long day where they will be done later in the evening.
We begin the summer with a five day training camp of intense instructor/social media managers/office workers preparation, and training in TLC’s Three Crowns philosophy and diversity training. We then have 15 camps throughout the summer with 2 camps per week. There are no camps during the week of the Fourth of July and staff members will receive that week off. There is an additional camp off during the end of July as well. Staff members typically start after Memorial Day and finish up with camp early August.
You will not need a car in order to fulfill your job responsibilities but some staff members like to go off campus during their time off. Mankato is a 20 minute drive away from campus. It is recommended to bring a bike or scooter so that you can quickly navigate around campus. The tennis complex, dorms, and dining center are 3 separate buildings but are a 7-10 minute walk away from one another.
TESTIMONIALS
"The [Staff] diversity is better than it has ever been and it has made a positive impact!"
- former staff member
"TLC is a place that has prepared me for my future in ways that I could never have imagined! Choosing to work here was one of the best decisions I've ever made for my professional career"
- former staff member
"I've grown exponentially during my time working for TLC and have walked away with lifelong friends too! I'd recommend this place to anyone!"
- former staff member