MEET YOUR COACH
CHRIS LEWIT
Chris Lewit is known as a Prodigy Maker. He specializes in high performance junior coaching:
Expert in Spanish methods of training
Expert in biomechanics and technical stroke analysis
Expert in tennis-specific movement and footwork
Expert in early childhood development and building tennis prodigies
Chris Lewit is a renowned tennis coach and expert who has been published in the ITF Sports Science Review. He has been recognized as an authority in the field by major media outlets, including the BBC and NPR, and has been featured in international publications such as People’s Daily, China’s largest newspaper.
He is a dynamic, innovative leader in the high performance tennis community. After playing #1 for Cornell University and training and competing for several years on the professional tennis tour, Chris found his passion and calling as a developmental coach shaping the games of gifted junior players, serious adults, and other students willing to commit seriously to the study of tennis. Chris Lewit is known for his unique qualities that make him highly sought after as a coach, not only for his unparalleled knowledge of the technical/tactical game, but for his forceful intellect; rigorous academic mind; demanding, physical teaching style; and ability to motivate and inspire a diverse group of students. Chris has developed many top national junior players--many who are now competing on the pro circuit--and he has extensive experience building the foundations of prodigies, especially at very young ages.
If players sometimes mention how tough Chris is to train with, it is not surprising to learn that he comes from a long line of military family members, including several Generals in the Air Force and Army, and his grandfather, a two-star Air Force General. Chris has the rare ability to push his students hard physically but also connect emotionally with his proteges and motivate them to achieve their highest levels of performance both on and off the court. Although he is a full-time dedicated coach, Chris is proud to still maintain top athletic condition and a high level as a player, and he still competes when his schedule allows. This allows him to spar and hit with his players--not just feed balls.
In addition to maintaining a high tennis playing level, Chris is also an avid student of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and is particularly fond of boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). Chris believes that competitive tennis players need to develop a fighting spirit and can benefit from the discipline and toughness learned in the boxing ring and on the martial arts mat. He tries to convey the lessons he has learned as a fighter to his students.
Chris is recognized as a leading expert in the world on Spanish methods of training, having studied for the last 20 years in Spain with many of the legends of Spanish coaching and having written the best-selling book, The Secrets of Spanish Tennis , in 2014, and the Secrets of Spanish Tennis 2 in 2024.
Chris has written a critically-acclaimed, comprehensive biomechanics and technique book, Winning Pretty, which is due to be published in paperback by New Chapter Press in 2025. The book is available now digitally on John Yandell's online technical magazine, Tennisplayer.net.
Chris is a leading expert on technical development, especially for young players, having published, in addition to Winning Pretty, the definitive, most comprehensive study of tennis technique available, and numerous articles for the world-renowned technical tennis magazine, Tennisplayer.net. A prolific writer and educator, he has been extensively published and is a sought-after presenter at national and international tennis conventions. He authors the acclaimed online resource ProdigyMaker.com for parents, coaches, and players, and hosts the popular Prodigy Maker Show available on the Chris Lewit YouTube Channel and all major podcasting directories.
As an educator, Chris is passionate about helping adults, juniors, parents, and coaches become smarter and more efficient in their training. He holds high performance workshops and presentations year-round at his club in Vermont. Chris has presented at numerous large conferences and national coaching conventions including the PTR International Symposium, USPTA, and with SWNineteen. He also offers a celebrated digital tennis school, CLTA.teachable.com, with cutting edge courses that can be accessed at anytime--from anywhere in the world.
A family oriented father of four kids, Chris understands the ups and downs of childhood and he treats every player like part of his family. Chris believes in building strong values and character in his players, not only to be better tennis players, but to be better citizens in the world. He believes it is a privilege as a teacher or coach to be in a position to help shape the lives of his students. Chris wants to develop a champion person, not just a champion tennis player. For Chris, a coach must lead by example and be a role model--both on and off the court. Chris Lewit students fight to win, but Chris expects them to always win with integrity, honor, and sportsmanship.
Chris is currently studying kinesiology, exercise science, and biomechanics at the college level and will be entering graduate school soon to continue those studies. While tennis is his life's passion, Chris is active in local EMS and volunteers on his town ambulance as a licensed AEMT--and he is studying to be a paramedic. He finds great joy in serving his community as a first responder. He has also been a dedicated national spelling bee coach to his daughter Sky, and currently trains his son Isaiah in cross-country and track. His oldest daughter, Sky, is currently a wrestler at Columbia University.