New Albany Tennis Center Staff

Meet The Staff!

The New Albany Tennis Center and Kobelt Tennis Academy is proud to have 7 Certified Coaches, 2 with Masters Degrees; Our Coaches Include a USTA High Performance Specialist, a Collegiate National Doubles Champion, a 4-Time ITA College All-American, 3 Current World Ranked (ATP/WTA) Players and a USTA Net Generation Youth 10 & Under Specialist

USPTA and PTR Certification demonstrates the highest level of commitment to coaching and customer service in our sport. Certification requires passing a series of rigorous on-court skills tests, group and private lesson tests and written exams.
USPTA & PTR also offer extensive continuing education programs through their web sites,
on-line courses, conferences, workshops and monthly trade journals and e-mails,
exclusively to their members. Certified coaches stay current with all of the changes in the game and are best able to provide students with the most up to date advice and techniques.

Paul Kobelt, USPTA High Performance Specialist

Owner/Director of Tennis/General Manager
Certified Tennis Professional
Current GCTA Board Member, Current Ohio Valley USTA Board Member/VP
Master's Degree in Business Management
Former General Manager of Bollettieri Tennis Academy - Paris, France
Former Director of Tennis for 18 years at New Albany Country Club

KTA’s unique teaching system is based on Coach Paul Kobelt’s 43 years of teaching experience which includes positions as Director of IMG/Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Paris, France and 27 combined years as a Country Club Head Pro/Tennis Director at the Milwaukee Country Club, New Albany Country Club and currently, Columbus Country Club. In 2005, Paul founded the New Albany Tennis Center, which is a famiy owned and operated year-round tennis facility open to the public.

During his 30 years as a USPTA Elite Professional, Paul received extensive training by the USTA’s National Coaches as a Competitive Training Center Coach and also while earning their “High Performance Specialist” Designation. He has also attended over 1500 hours of continuing education and, over the years, has had the great fortune of learning from dozens of very talented co-workers, college coaches, WTA/ATP players and coaches and from organizing and conducting clinics with over 25 former Grand Slam Champions.
Eric Spohn, PTR, Certified Head Tennis Professional

Eric started playing tennis when he was 14 years old, and has been in the tennis industry for over 15 years. He currently has an NTRP rating of 4.5, and still actively plays in World Team Tennis and USTA. He is also an accomplished tennis photographer, doing work for the ITA, Tennis Week Magazine, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Toledo University, and Ohio Dominican University, as well as our very own New Albany Tennis Center. Eric works at the Western & Sourthern Open Tournament in Cincinatti each summer as a staff photographer, having his work featured daily on their website. Eric aslo enjoys watching old matches of tennis legends.
Ryan French, PTR, Certified Head Tennis Professional

-Coaching Certifications: USPTR Certified, NTRP Ranking of 4.5

-Where are you from: Reynoldsburg, OH

-Tennis Playing Background: State Qualifier at Reynoldsburg High School, OCC Champion, Honorable Mention All State

-Favorite Grand Slam: US Open

-Favorite Tennis Memory: Playing the Ohio State Stickney Center at the State Tournament in High School
Erik Belzer, USPTA Certified Tennis Professional

-Coaching Certifications/ Areas of Study: USPTA Certified and Wheelchair Tennis Certified. Bachelor of Science in Business from University of Oregon, Minor in Philosophy

-Where are you from/cities where you have coached: Born and Raised in Irvine California. I was a tennis pro for the City of Irvine Tennis Program, University of Oregon and an Assistant Pro at Umpqua Valley Tennis Center in Roseburg, Oregon.

-Hobbies: Running and Hiking

-Tennis Playing Background: USTA Tournaments in Southern CA and Club Tennis for University of Oregon

-Favorite Grand Slam: Australian Open

-Favorite Tennis Memory/ Favorite Player or Coach that Inspired You: 2008 Wimbledon Final. After watching that match I was inspired to compete and practice my heart out and not let any practice go to waste. My coach at the University of Oregon inspired me to pursue a career in tennis.

Julie Wood, PTR Certified and USTA Net Generation Provider

-Coaching Certifications and Continuing Education: PTR Certified Coach, USTA Net Generation Provider and Safe Play Certified, PTR Mentee at Roy Barth Tennis Center, Kiawah Island Summer 2017 - 2021, PPR Certified Pickleball Coach and Middle School Tennis Coach at Columbus Academy

-Where are you from: Louisville, OH

-Tennis Playing Background: High School Tennis and USTA Eastern League

-Favorite Grand Slam: Watching US Open on outer courts at Flushing Meadows every year from morning until night when I lived in NYC. Best matches: Gustavo Kuerten, Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer.

- Favorite Tennis Memory: Winning Riverside Park Tournament on Clay in NYC and coming back from 3-0 deficit in 3rd set high school match to help team win.

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Brian Hutter, USPTA Certified Recreational Coach

Brian earned his Certification in 2018 and began working at NATC in November of 2018. Brian plays on our mens 4.5 and 4.0 USTA teams and co captains the mens GCTA team in the summer. Brian began playing tennis at age 5 in Kalamazoo Michigan home of the USTA boys 16 & 18 National Junior Tennis Championships. He was a ball runner at the tournament where his passion for tennis was born ball running for the likes of Stan Smith, John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Paul Annacone and Bjorn Borg. Brian played on his high school tennis team which qualified for the state tournament 3 years and were runner up at the state tournament 2 of those 3 years. He played 1 year in college and graduated from Michigan State University. Brian works part time evenings and weekends as he works full time during the day at Big Lots on the e-commerce planning team. Brian plans to eventually work full time as a tennis instructor.

Silvia Ebenezer

Laura Ellis, Evening Office Manager and Front Desk Staff

Pickleball Instructor and League Coordinator

Bethany Buchert, Daytime Front Desk Staff

-Where are you from/cities where you have coached: I am from Columbus, OH and previously worked in daycare for 5 years and pre-k for 2 years

-Areas of Study: Working on my early education degree, focusing on Kindergarten and 1st grade

-Hobbies: Taking my dog on walks to the dog park and playing volleyball with friends

-Tennis Playing Background: My only background in tennis is from gym class! I hope to widen my horizons and join in on some of the clinics we offer at NATC!

-Favorite Age to Work With: I enjoy teaching the Pre-K age. They are always so eager to learn new things which keeps every day interesting.

-Favorite Teaching Memory: My favorite memory from teaching would be when I took my class on a field trip to the movies over the summer. The excitement of each student made the trip special. Being able to build a connection with each student is what motivates me to continue with my degree.