Staff
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David Schumacher, JD
Executive Director Mr. Schumacher, founder of A's & Aces, is responsible for its overall management and strategic direction. He was the top-ranked junior in Louisiana, a collegiate conference champion and played 50 pro events in Europe and the US. Mr. Schumacher practiced law for 18 years, focusing on general civil litigation and appellate practice. He is an Elite-level United States Professional Tennis Association pro who has taught the game to thousands of children including over 100 who have played collegiately, many earning tennis scholarships. During a seven year term ended by Hurricane Katrina, Coach Schumacher guided the never-before-ranked Tulane women’s team into the NCAA top-10, was five-times selected “Louisiana Coach of the Year", and was named Conference USA “Coach of the Decade”. He coached the first individual National Champions in any sport at Tulane in 50 years, Tulane’s first women’s tennis All-Americans, first Female Student-Athlete of the Year, 29 All-Conference selections, 35 individual ITA Scholar-Athletes and multiple Academic All-America teams. Post-Katrina he ran the Schumacher Tennis Club at Tulane until launching A's & Aces in 2008. |
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Christopher Brooks, BA
Program Director Mr. Brooks earned a Bachelor of Arts Major in Business Administration from National College, Charlottesville, VA. He has experience as a business manager with a background in nonprofit management, operations and accounting. He has served as Business Manager at GKSIR, LLC, and Liberty’s Kitchen Inc., and as Operations Coordinator at United Way, Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery. He has been an avid tennis player since childhood. |
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Aly Goldberg, BA
Administrative and Development Manager Lead Academic Instructor Ms. Goldberg earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, from Tulane University. She has worked with A's & Aces as an AmeriCorps member and classroom instructor for two summers, and has broad volunteer experience in the non-profit community, bringing skills in health and wellness sector, administrative work, and management to our organization. Ms. Goldberg has a passion for working with children and helping sports-based youth development organizations. |
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Alvin ("A.J.") Varnado, Jr., BS
Tennis Manager, Excellence Team Head Coach Coach Varnado has extensive experience providing tennis lessons, strength training, clinics, after school programs, team practice, etc. Prior to joining A's & Aces, he was the Head Tennis Professional at the Sports Club at Graywood (Lake Charles, LA) where he coordinated league practice, matches and special event activities. From 2002 –2007, he was the Head Tennis Professional at the Lake Charles Racquet Club where he helped coordinate and supervise programs for junior and adult player events, match play, travel team competition and conducted private lessons and group clinics for USTA Junior Ranked players. From 2004 – 2007 he served as the Lake Charles Community Tennis Chapter President, Director of Multicultural Program, and Director of Junior Development, and provided tennis training programs throughout local community to under privileged minorities. As a player Coach Varnado competed in ITF Future Pro Circuit during 2001-2006. He was awarded Louisiana Tennis Professional of the Year in 2005 and has represented Louisiana as a moderator and tennis instructor for the Author Ashe Kid’s Day at the U.S. Open 2005- 2007. Coach Varnado earned a B.S. degree in Management/Human Resources from McNeese State University. |
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Eduardo ("Eddie") Garcia, BA
Tennis Coach Coach Garcia earned his degree in Criminal Justice at Loyola University, where he played on the tennis team and served as a member of the Athlete Leadership Council. Coach Garcia has worked with A's & Aces since the summer of 2014, leading our 2016 summer camp tennis program at Dillard. Coach Garcia is certified in 10 & under tennis by the U.S Professional Tennis Registry. |
Alan Green, MA
Tennis Coach
Coach Green received a M.A. degree in Counseling from Xavier University. Since 2002 he has been the Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams at Xavier. Since Coach Green took over the teams, both the Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets have qualified for the NAIA Region XIII Tournament every year. Coach Green brought the teams to their highest national ranking ever, has been named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Coach of the Year, and has twice been honored as Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association/NAIA National Coach of the Year. Prior to his coaching career, Coach Green was a standout player at Xavier.
Tennis Coach
Coach Green received a M.A. degree in Counseling from Xavier University. Since 2002 he has been the Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams at Xavier. Since Coach Green took over the teams, both the Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets have qualified for the NAIA Region XIII Tournament every year. Coach Green brought the teams to their highest national ranking ever, has been named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Coach of the Year, and has twice been honored as Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association/NAIA National Coach of the Year. Prior to his coaching career, Coach Green was a standout player at Xavier.
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Charles Gibson, BA
Tennis Coach Coach Gibson graduated from Oberlin College in 2013 with a Bachelor's in Psychology. He has been part of the A's & Aces staff since 2014. Prior to joining A's & Aces, Coach Gibson worked with children as a tutor and was a camp counselor at Sidwell Friends Tennis Camp, Washington D.C., for nine summers. He played on high school and Oberlin College's tennis team. |
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Meghan de Baroncelli, BS
Tennis Coach Ms. de Baroncelli is the assistant men's and women's tennis coach at Loyola University, and also works with the boys and girls who are part of A's & Aces' Tournament Training Team. She graduated from Loyola in 2015 with a B.S. in Psychology, where she played #1 position all 4 years. Coach de Baroncelli played varsity tennis at Mount Carmel High School in New Orleans. |
