The Smith Stearns Family

Stan Smith

A native of Southern California, Stan Smith won the 1964 U.S. Junior 18 and under championships at Kalamazoo, Michigan and took his talents to the University of Southern California where he was a three-time All-American. He won the 1968 NCAA Division I Singles Championship and doubles titles in 1967 and 1968.

Stan went on to become a #1 in the US and then #1 in the world, winning the singles titles at the U.S. Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972, in addition to appearances in 13 grand slam doubles finals, where he won 4 US Open’s and the Australian Open. He represented the U.S. in the Davis Cup for 10 years, winning the coveted championship seven times. All told, he has won 39 singles titles and 61 doubles titles.

After his illustrious playing career, Stan continued his career in tennis by helping players through coaching and a variety of other coveted roles in the tennis industry. Stan was Director of Coaching for the USTA Player Development Program, working with Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Todd Martin, Chandra Rubin, Mal Washington and Chris Woodruff, among others. He was coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Tennis team in Sydney, Australia. Most recently Stan has served as the President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame from 2011-2022. Stan is known for his ability to communicate clearly on how to improve technique, strategy, tactics and the mental approach to the game – as well as for his legacy of sportsmanship and courtesy.

Even those who don’t follow tennis, know Stan Smith for his legacy with adidas, as the Stan Smith shoe has been a true phenomenon, becoming one of the best selling shoes worldwide.

Stan has lived on Hilton Head and has been the touring professional at the Sea Pines Resort for over 50 years. Stan, along with his wife Margie, have raised their four children on the island, and now are the proud grandparents to 16 grandchildren.

His legacy continues through the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, where he has been able to help develop aspiring junior players for over 20 years. He is most proud of being able to play a role in their overall development and the academy’s ultimate goal of college placement, while watching these young student-athletes succeed in their careers in college and beyond.

B.J. Stearns – Academy Director

The winner of 18 National Championships (gold balls), B.J. Stearns attended the University of Texas, where he played #1 singles and doubles and was team captain. As a junior, he was a member of the U.S. National Team, won the Kalamazoo Doubles twice in the 16 and under division, and won various other National and International titles like the Easter Bowl and Orange Bowl. He has wins against accomplished players such as Paul Goldstein, Justin Gimelstob, Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten, Magnus Norman and Mark Philippoussis.

In addition to his own career, B.J. has been instrumental in the development of many of the academy’s top players, with his students going on to win titles at all levels of the game –Professional, NCAA individual and team, and Super National Championships. He has coached many All-American collegiate athletes. A highlight of his coaching career was in 2014, when 5 of his former players competed in the NCAA Women’s Team Final – UCLA vs. UNC. It was a proud moment getting to watch them all compete in the final of such a prestigious tournament.

Some of his recent standout students have included Hayley Carter, a top 20 WTA doubles player, former #1 National junior singles and doubles player, and standout at UNC, Cleeve Harper, the 2022 NCAA Doubles Champion from the University of Texas, Robert Loeb, the 2017 NCAA Doubles Finalist from the University of Texas and former #4 nationally ranked recruit, JJ Tracy, a top 10 blue chip recruit and 2022 All-American from the Ohio State University, and Andres Martin, the #5 rated blue chip recruit, standout singles and doubles player for Georgia Tech, and most recently winner of his first ATP tour match at the Atlanta Open.

B.J. believes that good tennis players need to be technically sound and also have a complete understanding of the strategy of the game. He leads by example and wants players to realize that tennis can be fun, even at the highest levels of the game. BJ hopes that players come through the academy with positive experiences that will last with them forever. It takes a team effort, and he values the people that have been instrumental in the success of the academy and our students.

B.J. and his wife Kelley, also a former top junior and collegiate player at the University of Georgia, have been a part of the academy since opening in 2002 and are very passionate about helping young athletes become the best they can be. They have three young children of their own.

Billy Stearns 

World-class coach Billy Stearns has worked with over 30 All-American collegiate athletes, three NCAA doubles champions, and over 200 State, National and ITF Junior titleholders. He has led seven players to become Top 10 in the ATP and WTA tours, two of whom became Wimbledon Champions.

Most recently, he was the junior coach of WTA #3 Jessie Pegula who he coached for over 6 years. Billy was instrumental in the early development of Jessie’s game setting up the foundation for the player she has become today.

Throughout his 40-year coaching career, he has set a pattern of motivating players to achieve their highest potential. Billy is known for his rare ability to quickly recognize a player’s strengths and weaknesses, and to analyze strokes and rebuild them until they are technically sound. His one-on-one attention focuses on proper shot selection, technically correct stroke production, balance, match play strategy, transitional game, confidence and anticipating the ball. Billy helps players exceed their perceived limits to reach their true maximum potential.

Billy is proud of how the academy has evolved into what it is today. He continues to be passionate about helping young players along their journey and looks forward to introducing the game he loves to his three grandchildren as well.

Eric Turner – Director of Player Development – Senior Academy Coach

Eric came to Smith Stearns as a young player where he lived and trained at the academy throughout his junior career. As a junior, Eric won two National Open Championship titles and reached the quarterfinals of the Super Nationals four times and the semi-finals twice. He won a bronze ball in doubles at the Winter National Championships and also competed in the Orange Bowl. A five star recruit, Eric then went on to play at NC State before transferring to Elon University where he played #2 singles and #1 doubles and earned First-Team All-Conference honors. He led his team to a conference championship his junior year and as a senior he was voted the captain of the team.

Eric has had a successful transition into coaching, where he has coached multiple USTA ball winners and ITF Champions. He has also been the traveling coach to the academy’s top players at USTA and ITF tournaments all around the world. He was the travel coach to Robert Loeb, a former #4 blue chip recruit and All-American player, Vikash Singh, when he made the finals of the Orange Bowl in the 16’s, as well as many other students who went on to win ITF titles. Eric has also been instrumental in helping his students attend some of the nation’s best colleges.

Eric started his career at the academy as a young coach out of college and has worked his way into the role as the Academy’s Director of Player Development, working closely with Stan and BJ in the daily academy sessions while focusing on all of our student’s development. He is a very talented coach who has a keen eye for what his students need to achieve success.

Patrick Fediuk–Director College Placement & Tournaments – Head Academy Coach

A native of Canada, Patrick Fediuk earned a degree in history with a minor in coaching and physical education from Presbyterian College in 2009 and was a four-year member of the Blue Hose tennis team, where he was an Academic All-American and earned All-Conference Academic honors.

Patrick most recently comes to us again from his alma mater Presbyterian College where he has the Head Coach of the Men’s Team for four years. In his second season, PC won the Big South Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. During his tenure Patrick coached several players who earned both Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Big South Freshman of the Year honors. Prior to PC, Patrick worked as a coach at Smith Stearns for over four years gaining experience and developing his knowledge of the game.

Patrick has been a lead coach and travel coach to many of the academy’s top juniors. He has coached over 20 top 50 nationally rated recruits. One of his coaching highlights was being able to help Andrew Schafer make the finals of the prestigious Eddie Herr International Junior Championships in the boys 16’s.

Patrick has been a part of the academy for over 8 years. He has worked his way up from a young coach to head coach, and is now the Director of our College Placement Program. In addition, Patrick serves as the Tournament Director for all of the National tournaments that Smith Stearns plays host to.

Patrick is one of our most passionate and well-liked coaches and knows how to motivate and get the best out of our young players. His energy is contagious and everyone loves to be on Patrick’s court!

Nicolas Guillon – Head Academy Coach

Nico is a native of Draveil, France, in one of the suburbs of Paris, and played for Mercer University (NCAA 1) for four years, as a top-ranked singles and doubles player. He was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection (2017, 2019), and earned an All-First Team Conference spot as both a singles & doubles player in 2019. He graduated with his Bachelor of Business Administration in Sports Business and Management in May of 2019. He then served as a graduate assistant coach for two years while pursuing his Masters of Business Administration, which he earned in May of 2021. Before coming to Smith Stearns during season breaks, he worked periodically as a Tennis Pro at the Navesink Country Club and as a Hitting Partner to a top 180 pro, former 19 in the world, traveling with her to WTA and ITF events.

Josh Banks – Head Academy Coach

Josh Banks grew up in Toowoomba, Australia but spent most of his childhood either practicing at academies or playing tournaments in various places all over Australia. Throughout Josh’s junior career he competed in numerous National and ITF tournaments throughout Australia, andwas also fortunate enough to have practiced and competed against the likes of Bernard Tomic, Jason Kubler, John Millman, Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Ashleigh Barty. Josh was ranked inside the top 100 male players in Australia before departing for the College of the Desert in 2012.

Josh played #1 singles and doubles for the College of The Desert and finished his freshman and sophomore season inside the top 10 for the NJCAA. After graduating the College of the Desert, Josh played #1 singles and #2 doubles for the College of Coastal Georgia and finished his junior and senior year inside the top 50.

Josh has also worked as a practice partner for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, The Brisbane International, and The Atlanta Open. He was lucky enough to have shared the court with Novak Djokovic, Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils, Ugo Humbert, Jeremy Chardy, Kei Nishikori, John Isner, Giles Simon, JJ Wolf, Yoshihito Nishioka, Chris Eubanks, Brandon Nakashima and Mike/Bob Bryan.

After graduating college Josh has worked predominantly at high end country clubs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island but his passion is working with competitive juniors aspiring to be division 1 or professional tennis players. While teaching at the country clubs Josh has assisted numerous boys and girls earn scholarships into Division 1 programs.

Finn Stodder – Academy Coach

Born in Berlin, Germany, Finn Stodder’s journey in tennis began early, marked by a string of victories in state championships during his junior years. His talent led him to the University of Tennessee, where he honed his skills as part of the men’s tennis team during his freshman year.

Transferring to Florida Atlantic University, Finn continued his stellar performance, dedicating four years to Division I college tennis. His commitment and prowess on the court earned him multiple accolades and contributed to the team’s success.

With a deep passion for the sport, Finn’s connection to tennis extended beyond playing. He achieved the third-highest coaching license in Germany, showcasing his expertise and dedication to nurturing talent.

Finn’s bond with tennis runs in the family as well. His brother, currently ranked 250th on the pro tennis tour, became his practice partner, fostering a competitive yet supportive environment.

Recently graduating from Florida Atlantic University, Finn Stodder stands as not only a skilled tennis player but also a coach with a wealth of experience, poised to inspire and guide the next generation of tennis enthusiasts.

Alfredo Soliz – Academy Coach

Alfredo Soliz is a tennis professional with more than 30 years of experience. As a former Bolivian National Coach, Alfredo traveled in South America and Europe for more than 7 years with the top ranked junior players, developing many national and international champions along the way. Alfredo is a former FED CUP coach, ITF coach, PTR National Tester, and Etcheverry Certified Fitness Trainer. He has presented many times at the PTR Tennis Symposium on Hilton Head Island, the PTR Inaugural Asian Tennis Seminar in Shanghai China in 2007, the ITF Worldwide Tennis Seminar in Valencia, Spain in 2009, as well as various other seminars around the world. Alfredo is a high energy coach with years of experience, who is passionate about helping young players develop.

Alice Batson – Director of Fitness and Nutrition

Alice received her B.S. in Exercise Science from Florida State where she was a Division 1 scholarship swimmer. As a graduate assistant in the exercise science department, she worked as a strength and conditioning coach. Later she attended University of South Carolina to obtain a Masters in Public Health and Physical Activity, specializing in Obesity Interventions. There she assisted in developing and running a medically based childhood obesity program in conjunction with an orthopedic practice and the university.

Over the years Alice has coached fitness and nutrition in Miami, Los Angeles, the Midwest and South. She has the highly respected Certified Strength and Conditioning (CSCS) certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is an NCCA-Accredited ACE certified Health Coach #W47083. She also holds national certifications in Personal Training, Functional Training, Pilates, Youth Fitness, Sports Nutrition and Group Fitness and speaks regularly about nutrition and fitness. Passionate about working with athletes of all ages, some of whom went on to receive athletic scholarships and make division one teams. Alice is committed to helping athletes reach their full potential through elite level conditioning, nutrition, and mindset.

A native of South Carolina, she currently lives in Sea Pines with her husband John and 2 amazing dogs, Snoop Dogg and Dolly. In her free time she enjoys kiteboarding and competing in standup paddle boarding. Their daughter, Jordan is a grad student at Pratt Institute in New York.

Marwin Kline – Sports Performance Trainer – Speed Specialist
Who says speed can’t be taught? Marwin Kline firmly believes that it can— in fact, he’s been demonstrating how for almost 25 years. Marwin Kline was raised in the low country and attended the University of Tennessee on a full Track & Field Scholarship. His accolades include: 1996 Olympic Trials qualifier, 1995 Track & Field News Magazine ranked #32 in the world in the 400 meter dash, a three time All American, four time all SEC, a team captain, and a John Young team captain award winner.

In his many years of training, Marwin has had the opportunity to work with numerous professional and collegiate athletes in a wide range of sports including football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and tennis. His passion for athletes and their development— both on and off the field or court— is present in each of the sessions. Marwin is a mentor to many and a very well respected professional in his field.

Lindsay Taylor – Sports Performance Trainer – Exercise Physiologist

Lindsay Taylor is a distinguished exercise physiologist and USSF A License coach with a passion for optimizing youth athlete sports performance specializing in female athlete performance. With a focus on fostering youth sport environments that prioritize athlete and coach development, Lindsay brings a wealth of expertise to the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy.

Lindsay first came to our academy in the spring of 2023. She is involved with long term athlete development and leads our strength and conditioning program. She lends her proficiency in overall athlete readiness by tailoring workouts to individual and sport specific needs and education around recovery in an effort to increase training and performance capacities.

Lindsay’s remarkable journey includes pivotal roles at Florida State University and the University of Tennessee, where she directly collaborated with top-tier collegiate female athletes in soccer and beach volleyball. As a key figure reporting to both the Director of Strength and Conditioning and the Head Coach for each team, Lindsay meticulously analyzed internal and external data to gauge training adaptability, injury risk, and performance potential. Her efforts contributed to ACC Championship and National Championship victories, alongside two CCSA Championships and an SEC Championship.

Outside of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, Lindsay is the founder of her own female athlete performance company called, Just Tri Performance. Through this endeavor, she strives to empower the upcoming generation of female athletes, fostering environments that embrace athlete and coach growth, while maintaining a distinct emphasis on female physiology and the menstrual cycle’s impact across sport and life.

A true local, Lindsay’s roots trace back to Hilton Head Island, making her a genuine part of the Lowcountry community. Her athletic background encompasses Division I soccer and track at Winthrop University. Lindsay holds a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, complemented by an M.S. in Exercise Physiology with a concentration in Sports Science. With over a decade of youth athlete coaching experience and certifications through the American Council on Exercise, Lindsay Taylor stands as an invaluable asset in shaping the future of our tennis academy’s sport performance.

Matt Cuccaro, Ed.M. – Director of Mental Conditioning

Passionate about personal growth and the development of high performance team cultures, Matt has more than a decade of experience working with athletes, coaches, parents, businesses and educators on the mental aspects of elite performance.

As a Performance Consultant with Telos Sport Psychology Coaching, Matt assists the development of individuals and teams from the junior level to the highest professional ranks through workshops, individual meetings, speaking engagements and publications. His clients include Olympians, NCAA teams and pros currently competing in a number of sports across the world. He has published numerous books, performance handbooks and virtual training spaces to guide performers toward reaching their potential in various domains.

For nine years, he served as Director of Mental Training for Junior Sports Corporation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where numerous All-American student-athletes continue to emerge from the culture created under his guidance. Matt received his Master of Education from Boston University in Counseling/Sport Psychology and is an active member of the Association of Applied Sport Psychology..

Besmir Muskaj LAT, ATC, CES, AIB-VR – Director of Sports Performance – Head Athletic Trainer

Besmir is a competent, resourceful, and highly motivated Athletic Trainer who has made a huge impact in the Sports Medicine Department with Smith Stearns as the Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Performance.

Besmir received his Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Trainer from the University of North Florida in 2013 and has gained experience treating in wide variety of settings.

Besmir then received his certification of Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) from the National Academy of Sports Medicine which allows him to perform Functional Movements Screens to create individualized exercise programs based on the impairment assessed.

Besmir has worked in many settings from High Schools to Division I Collegiate Sports to the NFL (Jacksonville Jaguars) to many different clinics. Besmir spend most of his time with Division I Collegiate Sports at University of North Florida where he worked specifically with Men’s and Women’s Tennis Programs and was a part of four Conference Championships and two NCAA Championship appearances.

Later he moved into a Sports Rehabilitation Clinic as the Director of Sports Medicine and treated all ages as well as created and operated a Wellness/Athletic Development program.

Besmir is also certified by the American Institute of Balance in Vestibular Rehabilitation where he treats many patients for vertigo, vestibular, or concussion symptoms. With his experience, Besmir enjoys applying his skills to further insure the safety of the athletes and enhance their performance.

Leroy Gilchrist – Boy’s House Parent