Man with Martin ties is USTA youth director

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The U.S. Tennis Association recently ann-ounced former Union Citian Craig S. Jones has been named its director of youth play and competition.
In this role, he will be responsible for helping to reshape youth competition in the United States, particularly at the 10-and-under level, as well as overseeing USTA’s Jr Team Tennis.
Jones, a 1981 graduate of Union City High School, is the son of former Martin residents Dr. K. Paul and Keytha Jones of Santa Fe, N.M.
The elder Jones was a professor and administrator at UT Martin at Martin for 30 years.
The younger Jones, who started his new job June 1, reports to USTA managing director of youth tennis Scott Schultz.
“I’m thrilled to have Craig join our newly-formed Youth Tennis Division within Community Tennis,” Schultz said. “He has been a leader in youth competition in the South and a pioneer in 10-and-under tennis in this country.”
Jones, who will be working in both New York and Boca Raton, Fla., said he is excited about the new opportunity.
“This is a personal honor and professional opportunity and challenge,” he said. “I look forward to working with the sections and districts with the implementation of the changes to 10-and-under tennis and the overall competitive structure.”
Jones joins USTA from Martinez, Ga., where he has served as the owner and director of operations at the Petersburg Racquet Club since 1998. From 1987 through 1997, he served as director of tennis at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken, S.C.
According to a press release from the USTA, he has earned a reputation as one of the top developers of junior players in the United States and is considered an industry leader in 10-and-under tennis utilizing the QuickStart Tennis play format.
He currently serves on the board of directors and junior competition committee of the Georgia Tennis Association and was named the GTA Pro of the Year in 2004.
Jones has long been involved with the USTA and committed to junior tennis.
Jones was the 2007 USTA/USPTA Community Service Award winner and that same year was named Racket Sports Industry Magazine’s Junior Development Champion of the Year.  
A lifetime member of the USTA and a certified USTA umpire and referee, he has provided 10-and-under tennis training and presentations utilizing the QuickStart play format for the USTA, USPTA, Intercollegiate Tennis Association and state high school tennis associations.   
Jones, 48, is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, where he captained the varsity tennis team as a senior.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.
A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game.
It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus U.S. Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open.
In addition, it owns the 90-plus pro circuit events throughout the United States, is a minority owner and promotional partner of World Team Tennis and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence.
For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

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