T. A. began his tennis career under the tutelage of top New England Tennis Professional Phil Gordon in 1975 and has taught tennis intermittently for over three decades in Connecticut, Arizona, and Florida. In addition to being the Head Teaching Professional at Gulf Harbour Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, FL, T. A. is a Contributing Writer for Tennis at Suite101.com, and does contract tennis writing and photos for a variety of organizations, including the Lee County Community Tennis Association, The USTA/Florida Section, and First Serve.

As a player, after achieving the #2 ranking in the USTA Southwest Section's Men's 35 division at age 40, he took a seven-year layoff from singles play. he began playing singles competitively again in March of 2007, winning his Ultimate Tennis division, and finishing No.9 in the USTA/Florida Men's 45s Final Rankings for 2007 after five events. T. A. finished 2008 ranked No.2 in USTA Florida's Men's 45 Division and No.30 nationally after only two national events. He finished '09 with a No.3 ranking in the USPTA National Rankings for Men's 50 Singles, and No.11 in Doubles.

T. A. was the first tennis player inducted into the University of Hartford Athletic Hall of Fame on the strength of a New England Championship at #2 singles and going 20-0 over a two-year period at #1 and #2 singles.

After letting his USPTR certification lapse, T. A. was re-certified as a Tennis Teaching Professional in 2007 by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) in the most modern tennis teaching techniques. He is also a USTA/Florida Clinician.

T. A. brings teaching experience as a Communication Instructor at Arizona State University, and several community colleges in Arizona and Florida to the table along, with his on-court teaching and playing experience. He teaches like he plays: Leaving it all out on the court!

Read more at Suite101: T. A. Niles http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/tamaj13#ixzz0hzLW86Jc