photo courtesy Elon University     

 

    A book written by an outstanding North Carolina tennis coach may be of interest to coaches, players and fans of tennis in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

     The book is entitled “The Little Green Book of Tennis” and is written by Tom Parham, who retired from a career of teaching and coaching in 2004.

     A lifelong North Carolinian, Parham amassed a college tennis coaching record of 597-195 and guided teams to three national championships.  A professor emeritus at Elon University, he was awarded the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor, in 2004. Parham also served as an athletic director at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton) and as associate athletic director at Elon. 

     The book is similar to the format of the well-known “Little Red Book of Golf,” written by Harvey Penick.

     This book’s subtitle says it is “For Players, Coaches, Teams, Teachers and Fans.”  Drawing from 50 years of teaching and coaching, Parham shares insights from his mentors who helped him craft repeatable techniques for winning. The book includes stories from Parham’s career, drills and techniques, instructions for coaches and players, as well as life lessons which can be learned from athletics.

     Dave Odom, former collegiate basketball coach and a member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, says, “I have seen this man coach and teach. His words flow off the page much in the same manner as the great teachers and coaches I have known. Coach Parham concludes that ‘this material is, in large part, not mine. I am only the messenger. I believed in it and benefitted from the masters. I did write it down’. I don’t think anybody has done it better.”

     Former teacher and coach Eddie Gwaltney says, “The best book I have ever read on the game of tennis—from teaching techniques, to drills, to strategy.  A must read for players and coaches.”

      “Tom Parham is my friend, my coach at Elon University, and a longtime advisor,” Roland Thornqvist, the head women's tennis coach at the University of Florida, said in his endorsement of the book. “He understood both the game, the team and me. He is a very well respected professional with success at coaching and teaching at any level. He is a master teacher and looked at as an integral part of tennis history in North Carolina, the South and the nation. The Little Green Book of Tennis is ‘spot on’ in method and message for coaches, players and teams at all levels.” 

     The book is available from Amazon.com, including in e-book form.  More information is available by contacting Tom Parham at 202 Blue Crab Court, Emerald Isle, NC 28594.