Aug. 9, 2017
THE FLATS – Jeremy Efferding, a former ITA All-American at Texas A&M and ATP professional player, has joined the Georgia Tech men’s tennis staff as assistant coach, head coach Kenny Thorne announced on Wednesday.
“Derek Schwandt did an incredible job at Georgia Tech and we are happy for him that he got rewarded with a good head coaching job after last season,” Thorne said. “I have been looking for the best coach I could find on and off the court to train and mentor our student-athletes. Jeremy is one of the best up-and-coming coaches out there and he is a first class person. He understands what it takes to succeed on the court and in the classroom.”
Thorne continued, “He is a great analytical thinker and understands the game very well. I’ve enjoyed spending time with him talking about developing players for the highest level of the game. Jeremy also plays very well so I wish he still had some eligibility left. He played at the highest level in college and went on the pro tour before sustaining an injury. He and his wife, Mayers, are two incredible people who I am happy to welcome to our Georgia Tech team.”
Since wrapping up his All-American playing career at Texas A&M in 2015, Efferding has played professional tennis on the ATP Tour as well as worked as the student assistant coach on the Texas A&M women’s tennis staff and, most recently, as a fellow in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Player Development program.
While in the USTA Player Development program, Efferding was able to work alongside the top national coaches and junior players in the country, receiving training in coaching, mental and physical strength and conditioning, and film review when traveling and coaching at professional events. During his time, he worked under 2005 Wimbledon doubles champion Stephen Huss and USTA national coach and former SEC Head Coach of the Year Sylvain Guichard. Currently working at the USTA Boys 18 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., Efferding is working with the top American players in their junior career.
With Efferding on staff at Texas A&M, the women’s tennis team finished No. 16 in the nation, downing six nationally ranked programs – including then-No. 5 Auburn, No. 10 Duke and No. 11 Kentucky – en route to an 18-13 overall record. The Aggies advanced to the NCAA Championship round of 16, where they fell to then-No. 1 seed and eventual national champion Florida.
Beginning his professional career in the summer of 2015, Efferding competed on the circuit overseas in Greece and Portugal as well as in events in the United States. The 24-year-old has amassed 18 career singles victories and four doubles wins.
Efferding was an all-American (2015), three-time all-SEC selection (2013, `14, and `15) and two-time all-SEC Tournament selection (2013, ’15) as a 6-foot-2, right-handed singles and doubles player at Texas A&M from 2011-15. A multi-year starter, Efferding cemented his place in the lineup as a sophomore when he defeated the then-No. 1 ranked and eventual 2013 national champion, Alex Domijan of Virginia. He would go on to lead the Aggies to an SEC Tournament Championship in 2015, earning Tournament MVP honors to finish his collegiate career. One of the all-time A&M greats, he currently ranks 20th all-time in the Aggie record books with 58 dual singles victories and 16th in doubles dual wins (59).
“I would like to thank Georgia Tech and Kenny Thorne for this awesome opportunity to come on board and help represent the Yellow Jackets,” Efferding said. “I am thrilled to work under such a knowledgeable coach who has done an amazing job creating a culture of high work ethic and integrity. I aspire to learn from Kenny and help facilitate, for our players, the amazing life-experiences that college tennis has to offer.”
Efferding continued, “I want to thank the love of my life, Mayers, for her unconditional love and support. Thanks also, to my family for their continued encouragement and to my mentor coaches at Texas A&M and USTA that have taught me so much. Lastly, I would like to thank Mark Weaver at Texas A&M and all the players there that sparked my path to and passion for collegiate coaching.”
A Boca Raton, Fla. native, Efferding graduated from Texas A&M in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in university studies, health and kinesiology, making the SEC honor roll from 2013-15. He joins the Yellow Jacket family with his wife, Mayers Efferding, with a start date of August 14.
THE EFFERDING FILE
Coaching Experience
2016-17: Texas A&M (student assistant)
2017: United States Tennis Association (fellow)
2017-: Georgia Tech (assistant coach)
Playing Experience
2011-15: Texas A&M
Alma Mater: Texas A&M (2017)
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.
Birthdate: May 4, 1993 (24)
Wife: Mayers Efferding
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