Staff

Alvin (AJ) Varnado, Jr.
Co-Executive Director, Director of Tennis
Coach Varnado, Co-Director of A's & Aces and Director of Tennis, comes to A's & Aces with a wide range of tennis experience, including high performance training. He is a USPTA Elite Pro and USPTR Professional. In 2026, he received the '35x35' President’s Impact Award, a national honor presented by the USTA to grassroots leaders making a significant impact by growing tennis and expanding access to all communities. He was also awarded the 2025 Industry Excellence Award by the National and Southern Section of the RSPA. This honor recognizes RSPA-certified professionals who have made outstanding contributions to growing tennis at the grassroots level and increasing player participation in the sport. Coach Varnado is a dedicated educator with over two decades of experience coaching players of all levels and educating the generation of next leaders.

Andrea Smith, PhD
COO/Director of Academic Programming
Coach Andrea holds a Ph.D. from Tulane University and brings a background in education, public health, youth development, research, and evaluation. Before joining A’s & Aces as a full-time leader, she served as the organization’s Summer Camp Director for three years and has experience teaching in public schools. At A’s & Aces, Coach Andrea leads and expands academic programming while applying her research and evaluation expertise to strengthen the organization’s impact. Her work supports A’s & Aces’ whole-child approach, helping youth thrive academically, physically, and emotionally.

Rick Gipson
Tennis Coach
Coach Gipson is the proud parent of two aspiring tennis players, with his eldest currently ranked among the top juniors in Louisiana for his age division. In addition to his role as a tennis parent and coach, he brings over 10 years of professional experience as an e-learning developer, specializing in training and instructional design. Coach Gipson is also a versatile athlete with a strong background in basketball, baseball, and tennis, which allows him to bring a multi-sport perspective to player development. His passion for teaching and ability to connect with young athletes make him an invaluable part of the A’s & Aces team.

Myriam Kone
Director of Tennis Outreach

Coach Myriam is an educator with experience in early childhood development. She has directed A’s & Aces camps for the past four years and has worked with players from the Red Ball through Yellow Ball levels. A bilingual educator in French and English, she specializes in working with younger players, teaching strong tennis fundamentals while helping children develop confidence and a love for the sport. Coach Myriam leads A's & Aces After-School Program at Arthur Ashe Charter School.

Kenny Waguespack
Volunteer Tennis Coach and USTA-certified Referee

Coach Waguespack joined the staff following his retirement from Encompass Insurance Company where he worked for many years as a large loss property adjuster. Kenny is a life-long tennis enthusiast and has been a committed A's & Aces volunteer on the courts and serving as the certified USTA Referee for all A's & Aces' USTA sanctioned tournaments. In 2019, he joined A's & Aces as a staff and part-time coach. Coach Kenny is a USPTA Certified Pro.

Matison Williams
Dr. James W. Ewers Jr. Fellow (2023 - present)

Matison was selected as Dr. James W. Ewers Jr. Junior Fellow in the spring of 2023. Matison is a senior at Ben Franklin High School. Matison is an accomplished Louisiana tennis player who plans to play tennis in high school and college. She is ranked top 30 in the State in her age division. Matison had a 4.0 GPA throughout elementary and middle school, graduating as a salutarian. As a Fellow, she helps with practices, assisting lead coaches, as well as working on her own game. In 2024, she received the LTA's Believer Grant for her tennis and academic accomplishments. Matison is a 2026 USTA NJTL National Essay Contest winner.

SAFEGUARDING: ALL (ADULT) A'S & ACES INSTRUCTORS ARE USTA SAFEPLAY CERTIFIED WHICH INCLUDES A BACKGROUND CHECK.
THIS CERTIFICATION IS RENEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.