Jon Betts

Coach Betts, a USPTA teaching professional, has been the head girls' tennis coach at H.D. Jacobs High School since 2005 and returned in the spring of 2014 to lead the Golden Eagles' boys after running the Hampshire tennis program from its creation in 2009. When his high school teams are not in season, Coach Betts runs the McHenry, Dundee Township, and Village of Algonquin Park District tennis programs, works as a teaching professional at Centre Court Athletic Club, The Crystal Lake Racket Club, and Healthbridge Tennis Center in Huntley, and runs a number of USTA Leagues and local touranments, camps, and clinics. In addition to his on-court positions, Betts has also been a fourth grade teacher at Liberty Elementary School since 2005.

Betts has been involved in tennis since playing for the McHenry Warriors where he was a state qualifier in doubles. He went on to Knox College in Galesburg, IL where he was a four year varsity starter in both tennis and soccer and spent a mediocre stint as a member of the swim team. In soccer, Betts served as a team captain, received all-conference recognition and was awarded the Bruce Shadbolt MVP award his senior season. Captaining the tennis team, he earned all-conference honors in each of his four years as well as receiving the MIP and MVP awards. At the end of his time at Knox, Betts was awarded the J.W. Hilding Prize for the most outstanding athletic career by a senior.

Though extremely competitive, Coach Betts' first priority has been to grow and share the game of tennis with as many players as possible. The 'no-cut' policy which he has adopted has helped the Jacobs girls program average roughly 80 active players while remaining extremely competitive in the area with numerous conference and sectional titles.

An unashamed, 'tennis geek,' Coach Betts loves watching the professional game, particularly classic matches from eras past. He has been known to regularly cite Vitus Gerulaitus' pluck to encourage his players and feverishly records all televised tennis. Although he enjoys the unrivaled beauty of Federer and the doggedness and grit of Nadal, Coach Betts is saddened that two of his favorite players, Amelie Mauresmo and Fabrice Santoro, have left the game. In his free time, when he's not serve-and-volleying with his Tad Davis Imperial and developing his 'tennis tan' on the courts, Jon is active with a number of charity organizations. He also plays soccer, trains to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and, more than anything, enjoys relaxing at home with his wife, Steph, mischievous dog, Bear, beautiful daughters; Gracie Sue and Claire Marie, and the baby of the family, Henry James.

Professional Associations & Recognition

-President: Algonquin Community Tennis Association (ACTA)

-Board Member: Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTCA)

-Board Member: USTA Northern Illinois Tennis Association

-Founding Board Member: McHenry Community Tennis Association

-Member: USTA Midwest Section School Committee

-Member: USTA/USPTA High School Tennis Task Force

-USPTA Certified Teaching Professional

-MTMCA Certified Teaching Professional

-Certified USATennis Coach

-USTA Certified No-Cut Coach

-Northwest Herald Coach of the Year - 2011/2012