Jack Schore, Chief Executive Officer

”Being so young when I met Jack Schore, I can't remember exactly my first lesson with him—but  I do remember walking in feeling incredibly nervous and leaving with a big smile on my face and more confidence in my strokes than I had ever had. This experience has applied pretty consistently across the years in which I’ve known him, from every private lesson and clinic to discussing junior tournaments and college recruiting. My favorite moments were when he’d ask me what I thought of my match and game, as well as where I saw myself developing; it felt like an equal player-coach relationship, and I learned to analyze things and problem-solve independently in a way that has helped me not only on the court but also in everyday life. Staying level-headed under pressure, turning uncontrollable factors into your advantage, and maintaining sportsmanship despite sometimes unfair situations have all been proven to apply just as much to exams, life emergencies, and relationships with others as they have to tennis. 

I think that no matter where you see tennis taking you—whether it be for fun, for college, or professional—Jack knows how to best help you achieve your goals. His immense talent in coaching speaks for itself, as I remember how starstruck I was whenever I had the opportunity to meet or hit with one of his accomplished former players. He understood not only technique but also the mental strength and agility required and trained both with care. Just as importantly, though, he understood how I valued both sports and academics and wanted to be a well-rounded individual with interests outside the two. I played violin throughout high school and chatted enthusiastically during water breaks with Jack about my orchestra experiences and when I found a community that fit me perfectly at Columbia University, no one was more thrilled to hear about it than him. Tennis is about the enjoyment and personal growth as much as the competitive spirit, and it’s a mindset I’m very grateful to Jack for instilling in me.”

“I started with Jack Schore tennis almost immediately after coming over to the US from Russia. I was ten at the time and some of the best friendships I have today are from my very early days with Jack. My time at Jack Schore tennis was spent with an equal focus on tennis and education. When I look back at my time with Jack I remember the best of what competition is supposed to look like. I was part of a group of kids who from an early age wanted to improve day in and day out. From the time I started with Jack, there were always examples of great players who attended great schools on every court of the bubble. I was always encouraged to put effort into doing well not just on the court but in the classroom as well. After high school I attended GW University where I studied finance and played tennis on a part scholarship. When I graduated I immediately began working at Morgan Stanley where I still work today 22 years later. I continue to play tennis and still remember to this day how much Jack emphasized the idea of balance between study and play which has now evolved into work and play.”

“The first time I set foot on the Bullis campus, I was overwhelmed by its size and by the opportunity it represented. At the time the annual tuition over $40,000 was over half of my family's income, so I was especially fortunate to receive a full scholarship from the Urban Leadership Development Group established by Jack Schore. Jack was the Bullis tennis coach at the time and as I got to know him better, I finally decided to ask him the question that was burning in my head, "why me?". Jack didn't hesitate and told me that the scholarship was about leadership, on and off the court. It took me a couple years to understand what Jack meant about leadership, and why it was so important for me to be successful off the court and in the classroom. Jack understood that a great education would open a lot of doors for me and would be key to my success in many aspects of life. Indeed as Jack took me under his wings he would always ask how school was going and how were my grades. I still remember doing my homework in the tennis office before practice or at the library in between tennis clinics. During midterms and other exam periods practice and tournaments took a back seat as Jack would ensure the team had ample time to study. When I graduated from Bullis in 2006 with a 4.0 GPA and an acceptance letter to Harvard, I finally understood what Jack meant about leadership off the court. The importance of education in a young adult's development impacts how they see the world and how they see themselves fitting in. Through a great education I was able to find my voice in the classroom and grow into a leader among my peers, and eventually a leader in my community. Thanks to Jack for his mentorship and his guidance and the Urban Leadership Development Group for promoting leadership through education and through tennis.”