In conjunction with the inaugural HBCU Live at the US Open, held on Thursday on Day 4 of the 2021 US Open, the USTA Foundation is proud to announce its support for the newly-created USTA David N. Dinkins HBCU Coaching Grant.
The grant is aimed at encouraging and enabling HBCU players, and currently uncertified coaches, to become certified coaches, providing a valuable personal and professional development opportunity and an important step to a potential career path in tennis or other sports. Created in conjunction with the USTA at large and Tennis Industry United, this grant reinforces and expands the tennis industry’s commitment to supporting HBCU collegiate tennis and increasing diversity among certified coaching professionals.
The grant is named in honor of the late former mayor of New York City, David N. Dinkins, a lifelong supporter of tennis and the US Open, and himself an HBCU alumnus, having graduated from Howard University.
Funding from the grants can be used towards expenses to support the HBCU's tennis program, including but not limited to, team travel expenses, recruitment costs, uniforms and equipment.
USTA U, in partnership with the ITA, will offer free, in-person workshops for HBCU players to attain Level 1 coach certification, as well as Level 2 workshops for uncertified individuals who are already coaches. In order to receive the grant, each university will commit to a minimum of five players and/or uncertified coaching staff who will complete the workshop and certification requirements. These workshops will be hosted on their college campus or a nearby city. At least 50% of the participants must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder, and the HBCU tennis program must also be a current ITA member in good standing. In addition, the student-athletes will commit to a certain number of to-be-determined hours volunteering with their local National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter either while in college or within the first year after graduation.
Participants who successfully complete the workshop and related certification requirements will be eligible to receive a Level 1 or Level 2 coach certification from both the PTR and USPTA.
The initial grant will be jointly funded by the USTA Diversity & Inclusion Department and the USTA Foundation, which will offer up to $2,500 per eligible tennis program upon completion of the grant application. Individual grant amounts will be tiered based on the number of participants (players and coaches) at each school. For example: a school that certifies a minimum of five participants receives $1500; minimum of 10 participants = $2000; a minimum of 15 participants = $2500.
The grant process will be administered by the USTA Foundation, the official charity of the US Open.