The Ave Maria Tennis Project

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ryan Fleming for a reflective and forward-looking conversation about the launch of a new tennis program at Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida. Steve shares the personal and professional journey behind accepting the position as men’s and women’s tennis coach, while diving into his vision for reshaping player development at the college level.

The discussion covers everything from NCAA structure and NAIA opportunities to the cultural values of the university and how they align with long-term tennis development. Steve, Dave, and Ryan also explore big-picture themes, including coaching education, team culture, training structure, facility limitations, and the potential for Ave Maria to become a model for how American college tennis can be rebuilt from the ground up.

Episode 268 is a must-listen for coaches, parents, and program directors looking to improve tennis through education, values, and long-term vision.