WESTSIDE TENNIS
Meet Coach Catchings
Coach Jason Catchings graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Kinesiology and Sports Management. He has coached at Westside High School since the school opened in 2000. Coach Catchings has built the team from a total of 22 students in 2000 to 71 students in the tennis program in 2008. The team has won four district championships for the boys, three district championships for the girls, three Team Tennis Championships, and three second place finishes for both teams. We have had 38 athletes qualify for the regional tournament and two for the State Tournament as individuals. We have qualified for Regional Team Tennis four times.
Before coming to Westside Coach Catchings was a top ranked junior in the Texas Tennis Association and National rankings throughout his junior career. He won the 3-AAA High School Championship in 1992 with a record of 25 wins and no loses. After becoming injured during the summer of 1992 he took a semester off of school and joined the top-ranked junior college team at McClennan Community College. The team won the National Junior College Team Championship in 1993. Some of Coach Catchings awards while at McClennan include winning the Western Open College Championship in Singles and Doubles, finishing 3rd in the Rolex College Indoor Championship, winning the 2nd flight in singles and doubles at the NJCAA tournament. He then left the college game to start his way on the ATP Tournament Circuit. After 1 ½ years on the circuit and numerous injuries he left the circuit to work with top juniors at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy. He was one of the directors of player development and recruiting agents for the Academy.
While at Newks he coached 48 tennis players that have received NCAA Division I tennis scholarships and 5 players that are on the pro circuit at this current time. Coach Catchings had the opportunity to learn and coach with some of the top coaches in the world. These include Bob McKinely (2 Time NCAA Coach and Player of the Year), Charles Honey (NCAA Singles and Doubles Champion, coached Kevin Curren and South Africa Junior Davis Cup Team), Fanie Ranich ( NCAA Champion, South Africa Davis Cup, coached Lori McNeil, Wayne Black, and Cara Black), and finally John Newcombe (Coach of the Australian Davis Cup Team). He still privately coaches and scouts some of the top players in the nation.
In his off time Coach Catchings enjoys hunting and fishing, training his Labrador Retrievers. His goal this year is to qualify the team for regionals and three players to the state tournament.