Andre Agassi's Coach:
A Conversation with Coach Brad Gilbert

Sitting down with Brad Gilbert felt more like sitting with one of my friends at the local hangout. I had never met Brad before but there was this real down to earth quality about him. I had heard from many friends in the tennis industry that Brad was a real fiery guy, competitive to the bone and then some.

After a few formal introductions we got down to business so to speak.

Reg - "Brad, I hear that you are one hell of a competitive person is that right?"

Brad - "Well ya that's pretty accurate, well no that's me, yes (smiling)."

Reg - "How did it start, when did it start, I mean your passion for the game and the competitive spirit you bring to it?"

Brad - "I think it started way back when I was a little guy, a kid. A lot of people told me you couldn't do this, you can't do that. That didn't stop me and in fact it probably helped me become who I am today.

Reg - "I know what ya mean, being all of 5 foot 5 and a half, I know exactly what ya mean."

Brad - "I always believed in myself and I've had always an amazing passion for the game. I feel like, it's an incredible gift to be able to do it, and to see some of these guys out here not have compassion, well, it just kinda gets to you. I mean for me, when I was young, I did it for no money for nothing, playing and competing. As an adult to do this, well, I mean I love what I m doing and I am going to radiate what I love doing and if I don't like something then I'm gonna let you know!"

Reg - "It is great for me to be able to hear those words, I mean, I can see how your value systems and principles are what drives you. Passion for the game, god, sometimes so many things can take away from the game. Do you coach anyone else other than Andre?"

Brad - "Well, I'm really working with Andre right now, but also my son. I coach my 10 year old son (laughter). Gotta fix up his game. Also, a few ladies here and there. I worked with Hingis a little bit, and with Mary Pierce and Lucic."

Reg - "So you coached the ladies, well, I heard way back that you didn't think women's tennis was all that hot. How about your perspectives on women's tennis -- have they changed over the years?"

Brad - "Ya know back when I was a player, I'd think, geez, terrible tennis, women ohhhh ugly. Now, today, coaching women really helped me understand how to become a better coach. Now when I coach a man or a woman I can look past the "self" and really try to analyze what they need to help their game develop."

Reg - "When I was watching your practice with Andre earlier before this interview, I noticed that you had an emblem on your strings. What was that? I heard long ago that you would write your kids names on the butt of your racquets and then play with the one that was behaving?"

Brad - "Ya (smiles), I've got three kids, Zach, Zoe and Julie so I got their initials stenciled on my frames.

Reg - "How did you and Andre get together? Some people say agents, other people say over a bet, still others say that you approached and wanted to coach Andre. What is the real story?"

Brad - "Well, real simple, we got together about 6 years ago, over dinner. We were just hanging out and he started asking me about his tennis career and what I thought of his game. Reg, I was still playing, I wasn't looking to coach. Then at the end of our conversation, I thought I could really help him a lot! We just went out the next day and the rest is history."

Reg - "So you guys just clicked like that?! Are you more competitive than Andre or is he more competitive than you?"

Brad - "He's every bit as competitve as me, but he's probably more compassionate than me. But he's good people, he's got a great heart and he's a great human being."

Reg - What advice would you give those juniors out there trying to make it to the big leagues, trying to become successful professional tennis players?"

Brad - "Reg, the most important thing is to have the passion within yourself. Ya know, you got to motivate yourself, you don't have to have your coach to train, or somebody to motivate you, or your parents to or you have to do it to spite your parents. You need to use that passion within to motivate yourself. You do it for yourself and not for anybody else."

Reg - "As a coach, what is your goal, your ultimate goal? Any advice for coaches?"

Brad - "Ya know for me, umm, it depends on whom I'm working with. No matter who it is, I can't take that player and tell them okay your gonna play like Andre. Everyone is a different individual, and you take their strengths and ya know, their weaknesses and ya go from there. For me, ya know I got goals for my son, and he's got goals. If I'm working with a 12 year old girl, ya set small goals and you go from there. It's hard to just say that I want you to be a wimbledon champion, ya know it's tough, that just puts pressure on everyone. Whoever you're working with set small goals and keep moving from there."

Reg - "I have a very similar philosophy in the way students need to be approached and treated. Introverts and extroverts, too many coaches try to force themselves onto students regardless of their personality traits. I agree goals need to be created as a joint collaboration, in some cases by player and the coach, other times player and parent and best of all, all three. Any more advice to people learning how to coach?"

Brad - "Well, one thing to remember is "communication," listen to your players, they are not all the same, and don't try to mull them into the same player. It is one of the biggest weaknesses in coaching. You take your philosophy and not everybody is in tune with your philosophy. You gotta be adaptive and you have to hear your players."

Reg - "Nicely said Brad, well, that's it, thanks for your time!"

Brad - "Ok man, no probs! "

Sitting there watching the two practice together over the week confirmed to me how these two special people complimented each other. Fire and Gasoline! A match made in heaven!

I would like to thank all those people over the past year whom have taken the time to read my articles! I also would like to say thanks to all those coaches around the world whom have attended my lectures and workshops that I have performed around the world. I appreciate all the kind words via fax, e-mail or package J about my articles and efforts. These letters have always helped to inspire me to continue to share my knowledge and experiences.

The new year is coming and all of us are excited! It is a beginning, a chance for all of us to start the year with a positive note! So go out there, volunteer, smile, cheer and do all you can to help the game grow and to make the game a positive experience for all!

Lastly, I will be in Australia lecturing at the Australian Open Coaches Conference January 13-16th, 2000 in Melbourne with my brother Victor Vasquez, who is also a Professional Tennis Coach certified with Tennis Canada. I hope all my readers down under will come out and say hello. Love to Mom and Dad, my sisters and brother. Love to Raf and Laura, Laura O., Andy B., all my relatives around the world, Chelsea my god daughter, Les, Rhonda and little Blake. Thanks for those people who took the time to wish me a happy birthday! Best wishes to the special people in my life over the past year whom have influenced me with their kind supportive words: Stan Smith, Dennis Van der Meer, Tim Heckler, Vic Braden and Louis Cayer. A special hello to Mark A. in Toronto, Mark nice to know that I have your support friend, all the best to you and yours. Thanks to all of you who take the time each month to support me in my efforts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I sincerely wish I could thank each and everyone of you personally. Finally, if you've never sent me an e-mail or fax, and you're an avid reader of Tennis Server, let me know you're out there, a hello would be great!"

All my best, cheers!

Reggie

This column is copyright 1999 by Reggie Vasquez Jr., all rights reserved.

Reggie Vasquez Jr. is one of Canada's leading tennis coaches for juniors. He is actively involved with Tennis Canada's grassroots player development. A frequent and enthusiastic speaker at tennis conferences, he is certified by the U.S.P.T.A., Tennis Canada and the U.S.P.T.R.. For almost 7 years he was a head coach for the Canadian Davis cup Captain's Academy at the Canada's National Tennis Center. He has been a Tennis Canada - National Youth Tennis Center Leader for over 8 years and is presently a head coach of an Elite Tennis Academy. He has experience working with juniors from the absolute beginner to the international caliber tennis player. Reggie is also a published author on junior tennis. His personal web site has additional information on his book, the Tennis for Kids. The Tennis for Kids can be ordered directly at a discount using this link to the Amazon.com online bookstore.

Questions and comments about these columns can be directed to Reggie by electronic mail at reggie@tennisserver.com.