Role Title: Head Performance Coach
Organisation: Northampton Tennis Coaching CIC
Location: Primarily based at our indoor performance centre with delivery across five outdoor venues, 13 park courts, and our network of 50+ primary schools.
Hours: Minimum 10 hours per week to start
Remuneration: Competitive hourly rate with performance-based bonus structure
Role Purpose

To lead, develop and grow the Northampton Tennis Coaching performance pathway, building a thriving culture of excellence and increasing the number of players progressing to county, regional and national standards.

Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design, delivery and day-to-day running of the performance programme across all age groups.
- Coach and develop performance players from county level through to regional and national stages.
- Create a strong performance culture built on high standards, professionalism and continual improvement.
- Build a clear player development pathway that connects our venues, park courts and school network into the performance environment.
- Work collaboratively with the coaching team to identify talented players and transition them into the programme.
- Plan and deliver high-quality individual and group sessions based on long-term athlete development principles.
- Monitor and review player progress, ensuring regular communication with parents, coaches and support teams.
- Support competition programming, including tournament scheduling, match-play sessions and travel as required.
- Drive programme growth through strong relationships, visibility at venues and proactive talent identification.
- Contribute to coach education, mentoring and upskilling within the wider team.

NTC is a community-focused tennis coaching organisation delivering tennis coaching, development and performance pathways across clubs, schools, holiday camps and public courts in Northamptonshire.

Their offerings cover all levels — from “Tots Tennis” for preschoolers (ages 2–5), to Mini Red/Orange/Green for children learning basic skills, through to junior & adult group coaching, private lessons, matchplay sessions, holiday camps, cardio tennis sessions, and a full performance tennis programme.

NTC works across a broad network — multiple tennis clubs and community sites, outdoor and indoor courts, plus a comprehensive schools programme in primary schools.

Our philosophy is about making tennis accessible and enjoyable for all ages and abilities — while also offering high-quality, LTA-accredited coaching and a pathway for talented players to progress into performance tennis.

NTC is committed to professional standards: coaches are licensed/qualified, DBS-checked, first aid trained, with safeguarding procedures in place — especially important given work in schools and with children.

Overall, NTC is more than just a club: it’s a structured coaching network bridging clubs, schools, community courts and performance tennis — offering a full “path from first racket to competitive performance.”

Simon Gallo - Operations Director
- He has coached since 2008 across a wide range of ages and standards — from beginners to high-performance players, including some involved in international competitive tennis when he worked in a high-level academy.
Simon is committed to community tennis in Northamptonshire. Under his leadership, NTC operates across multiple clubs and community venues (not just a single club).
His personal mission — beyond coaching — is to make tennis accessible to all, and to reflect what he describes as the “family and community spirit” of club tennis.
Northampton Tennis
Simon effectively provides the strategic leadership and coaching quality underpinning NTC’s broad outreach: from grassroots to performance tennis.

Dean Gayton — Director of Tennis / Performance Coach
Dean brings a competitive playing background spanning over 20 years.
Northampton Tennis
His experience includes coaching abroad at internationally recognised venues (e.g. Dubai, Vale Do Lobo, Barcelona), giving him a broad perspective and exposure to high-performance tennis environments.
He holds coaching qualifications via recognised bodies (Professional Tennis Registry, LTA) and has additional credentials including first aid and DBS clearance — making him suitably qualified to coach at all levels including performance.
Dean’s role involves leading NTC’s performance-oriented coaching, working with players from beginners through to county/regional standards.
Dean complements Simon’s community-wide leadership by focusing on the performance end of the pathway — raising standards and developing competitive players.


✅ What Makes NTC Stand Out:
- Comprehensive tennis offering — from toddlers to performance players; group lessons, individual lessons, holiday camps, school programmes, matchplay and performance tennis under one umbrella.
- Accessibility & inclusivity ethos — making tennis broadly available across clubs, schools, public courts and to players of any age/ability.
- Professional, qualified leadership — coaches are qualified, accredited, first-aid and safeguarding trained; the directors themselves have strong playing and coaching backgrounds.
- Pathway continuity — clear trajectory from “first racket” through to potential county, regional or beyond — ideal for nurturing long-term talent and offering progression.
- Established network across clubs and community venues — rather than being tied to a single club, NTC spans many venues which helps reach more communities and talent pools across Northamptonshire.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- LTA Level 4 Senior Performance Coach (or working towards Level 5).
- Extensive experience coaching performance players at county, regional and national levels.
- Proven track record of growing and developing performance programmes within clubs or venues.
- Strong understanding of talent identification and long-term player development.
- Experience in creating high-performance environments and setting consistent standards.

Skills & Attributes
- Inspirational leader capable of driving a performance culture and motivating players and coaches.
- Excellent technical, tactical and physical coaching knowledge across junior and youth performance.
- Strong communication skills with players, parents and colleagues.
- Highly organised with the ability to plan, track and review player development effectively.
- Ability to build strong relationships within clubs, schools and local tennis communities.
- Proactive, professional and committed to ongoing CPD and personal development.

Desirable
- LTA Level 5 Performance Coach qualification.
- Experience coaching players at national or international competition level.
- Knowledge of programme marketing and recruitment strategies.