Jordan-Whitter Enjoying Coaching Success
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Jovan Jordan-Whitter, believes the foundation of his success as interim head tennis coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston is his “empathy first” motto.
It appears to be working for Jordan-Whitter, who was recently named the Little East Conference [LEC] Coach of the Year after guiding the university women’s team to the title.
The team finished the regular and post-season undefeated, earning the right to compete at the NCAA Women’s Division III Championship in May next year.
“It’s important your students know you care about their wellbeing,” Jordan-Whitter told Bernews.
“The university’s philosophy is students first and athletes second. I go even further and take the path of empathy first.
“The students need to know the tennis team is a family, a safe space, somewhere you can let your hair down, relax, and be yourself.
“That goes a long way to showing them I have their best interests at heart. When they know that, they’re easier to coach.”
The 38-year-old, who expects to be named permanent head coach, said the goal at the NCAA Championship will be a first victory at that level for the programme.
“In the LEC post-season, the team swept the semi-final and the final 5-0 – the best results in the programme’s history,” he said.
“We don’t have expectations at the NCAA; we have goals. The goal is to win a match.”
As for being voted by his rival coaches as the Coach of the Year, Jordan-Whitter, who has represented the island as a player and coach, admits the accolade came as a bolt out of the blue.
“In our industry, coaches get little to no recognition,” said Jordan-Whitter, who retired from playing in 2017 but has been a full-time coach for 14 years.
“This has been a pleasant change. It’s something I didn’t consider until it happened, and hopefully, it’s the first of many.
“It takes a lot of hard work. The other coaches in the conference voted, and I’m humbled and honoured to be recognised by my competitors as the best coach.”
A former student-athlete at the university, Jordan-Whitter believes he can relate deeply to his players and is well-placed to offer advice on and off the court.
“I played at UMass Boston, understand the pressure, the time management and commitment it takes,” he said. “The players know about my experience and resume – everything else falls into place.”
Jordan-Whitter, who started coaching as a 15-year-old with David Lambert, the former Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president, at the Elbow Beach tennis facility, said he plans to invite some of the island’s top teenagers to the university to develop their game.
“I’m figuring out a way to get our better youngsters out here to spend time on campus, eating here, sleeping in the dorms, so they can experience what it’s like being a student-athlete.
“I’m trying to bring the university experience to our players.”
