thien.me

Tennis Coach · Connecticut

Hey, I'mThien.

Welcome. I'm a tennis coach based in Connecticut. This is where I share what I'm playing, reading, watching, and thinking about — on and off the court.

About

Coach, player,
perpetual student.

I've been coaching tennis in Connecticut since 2015 and picked up pickleball in 2021 — currently sitting at 4.4 DUPR. Same philosophy for both: technique first, mental game second, make every session worth showing up for.

When I'm not on the court I'm reading about how athletes train, watching films, and building things like this website.

200+

8+

Years coaching

200+

Students

4.4

DUPR pickleball

CT

Based in

Timeline

Where I've been

2006

Started playing tennis

Weekend lessons. Never really stopped.

2009

Joined a junior program

Started competing. Lost a lot. Learned more.

2012

Graduated UConn

Studied there, played there, left with a degree and no idea what was next.

2015

Coaching full-time at a local club

Early mornings, long days, zero regrets.

2018

USPTA certified

Made it official.

2019

Visited Vietnam

Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City. Changed how I think about a lot of things.

2019

Coached my first competitive junior

She made the state finals in U16. Still one of my proudest moments.

2020

Went out on my own

Left the club and built something from scratch. Scary. Right.

2021

Started playing pickleball

Picked it up on a whim. Got serious within a month.

2022

100th student

Realized I had something worth continuing.

2023

Won a 4.0 DUPR pickleball tournament

First competitive tournament win. Didn't expect it to feel that good.

2023

Visited Japan

Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka. Already planning to go back.

2023

Built a weekly training group

A handful of regulars who show up every week. The most satisfying coaching I do.

2025

Reached 4.4 DUPR in pickleball

Still climbing.

2026

First 4.5 USTA match

Been working toward this level for a while. Finally competing at it.

Now

Still here, still learning

The work doesn't stop. Neither does the curiosity.

Coaching

Two sports, one approach

Music

Currently playing

Right now

Writing

From the blog

All posts →