Alfredo Velasco is in his first year as the Owls Men's and Women's Tennis Head Coach. He was born in Bolivia, South America and came to the United States of America as a teenager. He was very fortunate to have his dad and older brother who played tennis in Rogers Park, Chicago. They were very instrumental teaching him the basic skills and the competitive aspect of playing tennis.
Coach Velasco attended Sullivan High School where he earned Varsity letters in Tennis, Swimming and Football (soccer style kicker). His high school won a Chicago City Tennis Championship in 1966 and he won an individual tennis championship in 1967. After high school, he attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois where he played four years in the Varsity tennis team and four years in the Varsity soccer team (NAIA National Soccer Championship in 1969).
Upon graduation from college, Velasco became a Physical Education teacher coaching tennis and gymnastics. During the summer months, he became a Tennis Professional in several country clubs as well as holding the status of an Elite Tennis Professional associated with the United States Professional Tennis Association.
As time went by, Velasco coached many high school tennis teams, became a manager of tennis clubs and continued teaching private and group lessons. Also, he earned Masters Degrees in School Guidance/Counseling and School Administration. Currently, he is in the teaching staff at River Trails Tennis Center in Mount Prospect.
His philosophy in teaching and coaching is to be a good observer and effective listener to each individual player to meet high expectations not only on the tennis court but as well as in life. Coach Velasco says, "Success is a learning process every moment a player is on the playing field competing to his/her best abilities."
He lives in Skokie with his wife and a son who played # 1 singles in high school.
