Daniel Lartey Coaching Bio

Daniel’s introduction to the world of tennis was a stroke of serendipity. At nine, he picked up a racquet for the first time, and over the next three years, he taught himself how to use it. When he first showed up to the National Sports Stadium in Accre, Ghana, he was doing what most other nine year-olds do: following his friends around after school. They figured out that they could make some extra money working as ballkids on the club’s tennis courts, so Daniel enlisted as a ballkid too.

When the courts weren’t busy, they hit balls using racquets left lying around the club or borrowed from members, and this friendly competition was what turned him into a student of the sport. After watching a few months of this play, a local coach took notice of his potential and offered to train him after school. Coach Sam’s guidance shaped Daniel’s mindset as an athlete, instilling discipline, diligence, and the value of hard work.

He catapulted headfirst into tennis, from his first youth tournament win all the way to the world stage, including four years on the ATP tour. Since moving to the U.S. in 2001 to pursue a career, initially as a player and later as a coach, Daniel has been involved in the tennis community throughout the east coast and midwest. From volunteering for urban after school programs, homeless outreach programs, to metropolitan athletic and country clubs, his experience includes working with a diverse body of students of all ages, including beginners, recreational players, and competitive and collegiate athletes.