Five Questions with Tennis Coach Conor Casey

Tennis Coach Conor Casey, a former Canadian Under-18 National Champion, played college tennis at Ole Miss and The Ohio State before a brief stint on the ATP Tour. After his playing career, he discovered a passion for coaching, guiding several national champions and learning under some of the game’s best mentors. Beyond the court, Casey built a career as a tennis journalist and as a television writer and producer primarily in youth comedy and sitcoms. Today, he merges both his tennis and comedy worlds through his online platform @tenniscoachconorcasey where he has over 115,000 followers. His blend of tennis instruction, humor, and storytelling celebrates the joy and absurdity of the modern tennis experience. We asked him five questions about youth sports, life advice, and more.

1. What is your favorite youth sports memory?

My losing years! At eleven, a late bloomer in tennis, I started playing tournaments. My coach told me the only path to learning how to win was losing—a lot. I spent an entire year as a total unknown, entering every event, losing constantly and learning fast. I’d return to my bedroom, string my racquets, listen to music and replay the matches in my head looking for things I learned. Knowing I was following a plan and slowly improving remains the best feeling I’ve had in tennis.

2. Who has been the most influential person or coach in your life?

My daughter, Ella. Having her changed how I view everything. She gave me a new sense of purpose and a deeper determination to protect and nurture curiosity, joy, and confidence—not only in her, but in every young athlete I coach.

3. What’s one lesson that you’ve learned through your sport that has shaped your life?

Work on your strengths. As athletes and coaches we can obsess over fixing weaknesses to the point we neglect the positives. Fixating on flaws feels productive, but the real growth comes from noticing what’s working, understanding why, and leaning into it.

4. What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?

So many things, but if I had to pick one: Be patient and enjoy the journey. No one ever wrote a book about the view from the top of Mount Everest—the story lives in the climb. Oh, and stop comparing everything to friends, rivals, and the best in the world. That habit robbed me of joy and made progress feel smaller than it was. The real lesson came later: you don’t always have to do it the way others did—you can be the first to do it your way.

5. What is a belief or motto that you live by?

Pole Pole—slowly, slowly. The phrase comes from Swahili. Years ago, I was lucky enough to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, where the guides told us the secret to reaching the top: move slowly, breathe deeply, and enjoy every step. That rhythm has stayed with me. Whether on court, in work, or in life, the goal isn’t speed—it’s presence and patience that will get you to the top. 

More from Conor Casey

Conor merges humor and tennis on his social media channels. Follow him on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to see more.

See Conor's Kingston Tennis Club coaching bio here.

Follow Conor on LinkedIn.