Archive for Tennis Court
The firing of Dennis Howard in March deeply disturbed the local tennis community. Howard, a revered coach at Yavapai Community College, was dismissed for reportedly breaching a College policy. He had gone to the College’s tennis complex on snow days to check its condition while the Campus was officially closed. As a result of this infraction, the dedicated coach was fired and also prohibited from accessing the College’s tennis courts for several monthsWithout a tennis team, and few or no professionals now teaching at the complex plus an absence of events, the Yavapai Community College courts are almost always open to Prescott residents
Yavapai Community College has recently resurfaced its gorgeous tennis complex on the Prescott Campus, which was primarily built for Prescott retirees. The Community College has not disclosed the cost of the resurfacing project.
Construction of the seven-court complex was partially funded by Sedona and Verde Valley taxpayers through their property taxes. They likewise helped pay for the recent resurfacing.
Unfortunately, the complex is too far from most in Sedona or the Verde Valley to be of any real value. However, it is a great venue for Prescott retirees as the Community College does not have a tennis team, professionals are not using the courts for teaching, and no major events have been scheduled. It makes the courts available almost all the time for Prescott’s retirees.
Reports coming to the Blog indicate that tennis instructors and major tournaments are distancing themselves from the complex following the dismissal of tennis legend, Chris Howard. Many will remember the overwhelming dismay from the Prescott tennis community upon hearing of Mr. Howard’s departure. Despite the community’s urgent appeal to the District Governing Board to investigate the matter, their concerns were met with complete indifference.
Considered an icon in the tennis community, his commitment to tennis and loyalty to Yavapai Community College and the Prescott area covers decades
Yavapai Community College Tennis Complex on Prescott Campus
The following is an outline the Blog has created based on information it has received regarding the firing of Chris Howard. Neither the Community College leadership nor any members of the Community College Governing Board have provided citizens with an explanation about firing the 68 year old employee. Requests for information from the Community College’s Public Relations department, as suggested by the Governing Board Chair at the April 11 Governing Board meeting, were met with a statement that the College does not comment on employment related matters.
- Howard was 68 years old when he was fired in March 2023 by Yavapai Community College.
- Howard has worked diligently for over 40 years with the Prescott tennis community.
- He is a USPTA elite Master tennis professional, which puts him in the top 10% of professional tennis players in the country with knowledge and experience.
- At age 68 he still competes on a national level, winning in 2022 what he describes as a “couple national titles.”
- He has won many Southwest Region tennis events and was once ranked #1 in the nation in the 65 doubles.
- During his career, Howard has worked in every type of tennis setting including: Five star resorts, tennis colleges, private clubs, country clubs, colleges, high schools, private courts, and subdivisions.
- Howard’s experience encompasses tennis club owner, sports director, tennis director, multipurpose club manager, tennis professional, tennis camp director, high school and college coach, adjunct, professional tennis services, tournament director, racquet stringer and repair, etc. He has been involved maintaining and building tennis clubs and tennis facilities from the ground up.
- During his career, Howard has managed up to 25 staff members at one time.
- Howard is past President of the Yavapai Tennis Association and was one of five creators of the Prescott Area Tennis Association in 1993. He is still a board member.
- He has written a weekly tennis column in the Prescott Daily Courier for at least 30 years, which is called, “My Point.”
- Howard began teaching at the Yavapai Community College tennis facility in 1982.
- Howard was among a group of volunteers who along with George Reynolds helped maintain the tennis courts at Yavapai Community College from 1999 until 2014 when the next tennis complex was built.
- Howard was a member of the planning committee for the new Yavapai Community College tennis complex before it was constructed in 2014.
- Howard helped raise an estimated $200,000 from the Prescott area community, which was donated to support the construction of the new Yavapai Community College tennis complex in 2014.
- Howard considers the Yavapai Community College tennis complex “special . . . even with a small seven court facility. A place where everyone feels good to come, an easy way to make a reservation, to join a class, lesson, or clinic.”
- He was hired to manage Yavapai Community College’s tennis complex since it opened nine years ago.
- He was lauded and specifically recognized by Yavapai Community College for his “generous commitment of time, support, and inspiration in advancing the sport of tennis in the Prescott Community.”
- Since building the new tennis courts in 2014, the College has locked the courts when it snowed until they were safe to play on again, which Howard strongly agrees is appropriate.
- Despite numerous requests, the College refused to give him as the manager of the complex formal access to the courts following such events as a snowfall so he could get in to clear the shaded areas at times, which needed to be cleaned of snow. Howard wanted to assess when the courts could have been playable. Because he could not access them and remove the snow, many times they were not playable when if the snow had promptly been removed they would have been playable.
- On many occasions, Mr. However believes there was no one at Yavapai Community College who would come take care of the courts at a time when they should and could very easily be reopened by getting rid of the slush before it refroze during the night.
- Howard says that the College created a problem because of the inability to property remove slush on a court during the day before it would refreeze. This resulted in many Community College classes being unnecessarily canceled, patrons not being able to timely use the courts, and tennis professionals losing days of giving lessons.
- He tried to have the College set up a meeting with his new dean and also with the Head of the Facilities Department to discuss the delays in cleaning the courts. The College refused to provide him with that meeting.
- Around eleven months ago the College Leadership team, without consultation with Mr. Howard, apparently decided to take two of the seven tennis courts and make them Pickleball courts.
- Howard and others apparently requested a meeting with the College decision makers, but the request was denied.
- The Prescott Area Tennis Association (PATA) learned about the College’s Pickleball decision. PATA asked for a meeting with the College where its members could discuss what was perceived as a poor decision and suggest alternatives to the plan. The PATA meeting request was denied.
- PATA members, apparently frustrated at the roadblock thrown up to simply have their views effectively heard by the College, initiated an email campaign in an effort to further express their opinions about the pickleball decision while suggesting several alternatives.
- The emails arrived on the desk of the College President with copies going to the District Governing Board members. It is suspected that the strong outpouring of opposition from the Prescott tennis community ruffled the feathers of the College’s executives who were apparently less than open-minded about a member of the staff, Chris Howard, disagreeing with them over adding pickleball and then informing PATA of the decision.
- The Pickleball idea was eventually withdrawn by the College, however, Mr. Howard and then Dean Scott Farnsworth (no longer with the College) had a meeting where in Mr. Howard’s view the Vice President told him of the VP’s disdain over what took place.
- Howard felt that after that episode, the College began watching him “very closely.”
- Howard was dismissed from his job on March 6, 2023, as the Community College Tennis manager, adjunct and independent contractor because he allegedly broke the policy regarding snow days, which the College calls a “Closed Campus” day. No one is allowed on campus on a snow closed campus day other than authorized personnel. He was not on the list of authorized employees
- Howard explained that he was at the tennis courts on a closed snow day to determine whether the courts would be playable the next day. He had done this hundreds of times before. If he thought the courts could be opened the next day after inspecting them, he would then contact the facilities department and try and persuade them to finish getting the shaded areas of the courts cleaned off so classes could be held the next day.
- When the College learned he had been at the complex on a Closed Campus day, he was fired. He received was is described as some kind of “trespass” ticket. He was also banned from the Community College premises for 12 months. He lost his job managing the complex, his adjunct position and his ability to teach independently using the College complex.
- He apparently cannot even go and pay to play at the tennis facility.
- He believes he was not given a fair opportunity to voice or explain what he was doing at the complex before he was fired.
- Howard feels that the College treated him “more like a criminal” than an employee and is hurt by this treatment because of his strong support and hard work for the College covering more than two decades.
- There was an outpouring of support for him at the Governing Board meeting held April 11, 2023, with from 70 to 80 Prescott tennis enthusiasts jamming the Board meeting room.
- Among those showing support who were given one-minute to speak on Mr. Howard’s behalf were: Eric Mitchell, the CEO of the United States Tennis Association, Southwest section. Fay Matsumoto, a former 35 year employee of the College. Dr. Paul Sadick, former Head of Surgery for the Veterans Administration and Embry Riddle Professor. Elaine Wolff, Ms. Pam Lee, Mr. Bob Florine, plus wheelchair players Ms. Nannette Johnson and Mr. Andrew Bogdanov. Mr. Howard was also given one minute to address the Board and was cut off before he finished his speech.
- Because of the large outpouring of support, the Governing Board ruled that it would only allow nine supporters a minute each to address the Board. Howard was likewise given only a minute to address the Governing Board.
- There was no comment from the members of the Board. All questions were directed to the PR department, which when asked says it cannot comment on firings.
- Howard says the treatment at the hands of the Community College just “can’t be right – not having a conversation to get on the same page, letting ideas flow and going with what makes the most sense.”
- The Community College remains steadfast in its decision and offers no further explanation to Mr. Howard or the Prescott community about its devastating behavior.
Shares sketch of the speech he would have given to Governing Board on April 11 but was restricted to only one-minute to address Board at Open Call to the Public
Yavapai Community College award to Mr. Chris Howard
Prescott Tennis icon Chris Howard was fired in March by Yavapai Community College. In an earlier posting, the Blog has covered the perceived reason behind the firing and the flavor of the outpouring of support for him at the April 11, 2023, College District Governing Board Meeting. However, along with other speakers, he was allowed only a single minute to address the District Governing Board.
At the request of the Blog, Mr. Howard has graciously shared the sketch of the speech he had prepared to give at that meeting. It is set out below. In addition, you may also view a clip of his speech, which was cut off at the April 11 Governing Board meeting by clicking here.
By Mr. Chris Howard
Most of you don’t really know me, to you I’m just the tennis guy who “used to” teach tennis at Yavapai College and been in the area a long time as such.
The “used to” part of that last sentence is sad, because over the 40 plus years I’ve been in the Prescott area I’ve probably had the most interaction with practically every tennis player, junior-adult & senior than anyone else.
Since in Prescott I’ve….
Worked with or for every Y.C. athletic director, every Prescott Parks and Rec Director, most local high school A.D.’s.
Been past President of the Yavapai Tennis Association and was one of 5 creators of the Prescott Area Tennis Association in 1993 and still a board member 30 years later.
Been writing a weekly tennis column in the Prescott Daily Courier for 30 years called, “My Point”. That’s over 1,500 columns about everything you can think about related to tennis.
Graduated from the Prescott Area Leadership Program in 1995 that Dr. Ron Barns started in 1990.
Started teaching at the Y.C. tennis facility in 1982, became an adjunct in 1996, maintained the courts from 1999 until 2014 with George Reynolds and his band of great volunteers. Helped raise the $200,000 the community partnered with the college in the rebuild of the facility, was a part of every planning meeting and have been the manager since that time.
I am a USPTA Elite Master tennis professional, which puts you in the top 10% of pro’s in the country with knowledge and experience.
As a player I still compete on a national level, and last year won a couple national titles and many SW events and for a while was ranked #1 in the nation in the 65 doubles.
Have worked in every type of tennis setting: 5 star resorts, tennis colleges, private clubs, country clubs, colleges, high schools, private courts and subdivisions.
Positions I’ve held range from club owner, Sports Director, Tennis director, multipurpose club manager, tennis professional, tennis camp director, high school and college coach, adjunct, professional tennis services, tournament director, racquet stringer and repair, etc. Been involved maintaining and building clubs and facilities from the ground up.
Managed up to 25 staff members at a time.
I have been on many boards over the years, donated time to our community in many various ways, run for City council, put my name in to fill in for County Supervisor Jack Smith when he stepped down and done my best to put Prescott tennis on the map to all ages and levels for 4 decades.
For me, tennis has been a passion, something I’ve always tried to do with putting my best foot forward, giving a lesson, playing in a tournament, teaching a tennis class, stringing a racquet, running a tournament, managing a tennis facility or building one.
It’s all about relationships, communication, following through with what you say you’ll do, continuity and most of the time a good demeanor and smile.
You try to look at the big picture and create a plan of action that lets the game of tennis grow in a positive manner.
That’s what I tried to do every day I’ve been at Yavapai College with everyone I’ve come in contact with.
We created something special here, even with a small 7 court facility. A place where everyone feels good to come, an easy way to make a reservation, to join a class, lesson or clinic.
Our tennis professionals are certified and covered with 8 million dollars of insurance, and they jell together like most communities would die to have.
The user fees and in house honor/computer system we have in place are more than enough to pay to maintain our tennis facility. Most colleges can’t make that claim.
My downfall has been that I cared maybe too much…
Since 2014 rebuild the college has locked the courts when it snowed until they were safe to play on again, which is a good idea. Unfortunately, they didn’t give the manager a key to be able to get in to clear the shaded areas when the courts could have been playable many times they were not.
Our facilities department needs to take care of the main campus and many times there is no one to come take care of the courts when they should and could very easily be reopened by getting rid of the slush before it refreezes again that night.
This has created a problem with many college classes being canceled, patrons not being able to get back on the courts and tennis professionals losing days of giving lessons.
Naturally that’s against everything I believe should happen when servicing our players and community. Since 2014 I have tried to get this policy changed, but to no avail.
The last try was an email/letter to have a meeting with my new dean and also with the Head of our Facilities Department. Once again they declined to have a meeting to talk and hopefully come to a better solution, which seems so simple. Let the manager help deal with it.
The “Closed Campus” aspect doesn’t work for the tennis manager. That person needs to see if the courts have a possibility of being open the next day. They need to let the college classes know, the patrons who have court time booked and the tennis professionals who have lessons.
Being made to feel like a criminal after years of good service can’t be right – not having a conversation to get on the same page, letting ideas flow and going with what makes the most sense.
I believe everyone here today can agree with that.
I am appealing to President Rhine to hopefully open the door to allow this proud but humble tennis servant to once again be of help at least teaching at Yavapai College, if not regain the position held previously which I always did to the best of my ability.
Yavapai Community College Governing Board allowed nine residents supporting Howard to address it for only one minute each; two speakers in wheelchairs, others weeping, and still others urging reconsideration and possible reconciliation
Around 75 visibly upset citizens and members of the Prescott tennis community packed the Yavapai Community College’s District Governing Board meeting wall-to-wall at its April 11 meeting. They were all there to support Mr. Chris Howard, who managed its tennis complex nine years but was fired by the College in March.
Some expressed disdain and shock at the perceived heartlessness of the College’s decision to fire 68 year-old Chris Howard. Some wept. Still others asked the College for reconsideration and reconciliation. Two citizen speakers were in wheelchairs.
Mr. Andrew Bogdonov (Photo attributable to Mr. Chris Howard.)
Howard is considered an icon in the Prescott tennis community. He has long list of accomplishments and contributions to tennis that cover at least 40 years.
Howard is one of several tennis coaches employed by the College to teach tennis. He managed the College’s tennis facility for the past nine years, up to the day he was fired. Prior to 2014, when the new tennis complex was built, he was a leading volunteer who kept the old, run down tennis courts going for the Community College. As an employee in charge of the new tennis complex, Howard received an outstanding performance award and plaque from the College for his dedication and commitment to the institution and tennis.
Mr. Howard was dismissed from his job as the Community College Tennis manager, adjunct and independent contractor because he allegedly broke the policy regarding snow days, which the College calls a “Closed Campus” day. No one is allowed on campus on a snow closed campus day other than authorized personnel. He was not on the list of authorized employees.
Howard says that he was at the tennis courts on a closed snow day to determine whether the courts would be playable the next day. He had done this hundreds of times before. If he thought the courts could be opened the next day after inspecting them, he would then contact the facilities department and try and persuade them to finish getting the shaded areas of the courts cleaned off so classes could be held the next day.
Because of what most would agree were his efforts to care for the tennis complex and its students, he was fired. In addition, he received a “no trespass” ticket, which apparently bars him from the Community College tennis courts for a full year.
Neither the Community College leadership nor any members of the Community College Governing Board will provide citizens with an explanation about firing the 68 year old employee. Requests for information from the Community College’s Public Relations department were likewise stonewalled with a statement that the College does not comment on employment related matters.
Many believe the real reason behind his firing was retaliation going back eleven months because of his opposition to potentially turning a portion of the Community College’s tennis complex into pickleball courts. According to Mr. Howard, about eleven months ago the college dean had a meeting with him and explained it had been decided the two upper courts on the tennis complex would be changed into pickleball courts. Moreover, Mr. Howard was told that the decision was a “done deal.”
Howard explained to the Dean that he disagreed with the pickleball idea and passed the information on to the Prescott Area Tennis Association (PATA). PATA asked for a meeting with the College where its members would be allowed to discuss what was perceived as a poor decision and suggest alternatives to the plan. The PATA meeting request was denied.
PATA members, apparently frustrated at the roadblock thrown up to simply have their views effectively heard in person by the College, initiated an email campaign where they expressed their opinions about the pickleball decision while suggesting several alternatives. The emails arrived on the desk of the College President with copies going to the District Governing Board members. It is suspected that the strong outpouring of opposition from the Prescott tennis community ruffled the feathers of the College’s executives who were apparently less than open-minded about a member of the staff, Chris Howard, disagreeing with them over adding pickleball and then informing PATA of the decision. (It appears that the College prefers to operate without ever informing citizens about decisions like this until after the fact because it fears citizen input and open discussion.) The College then, according to Mr. Howard, began watching him closely, which eventually led to the firing.
In what some view as an effort to minimize the citizen impact at the April 11 Governing Board meeting, only nine of Mr. Howard’s supporters were allowed to speak and each was restricted to addressing the Board for one minute.
Among speakers supporting Mr. Howard were: Eric Mitchell, the CEO of the United States Tennis Association, Southwest section. Fay Matsumoto, a former 35 year employee of the College. Dr. Paul Sadick, former Head of Surgery for the Veterans Administration and Embry Riddle Professor. Ms. Elaine Wolff, Ms. Pam Lee, Mr. Bob Florine, plus wheelchair players Ms. Nannette Johnson and Mr. Andrew Bogdanov. Mr. Howard was also given one minute to address the Board and was cut off before he finished his speech. (Video clip of speeches can be found by clicking here. Note College audio is at times poor.)
Tennis enthusiast Andrew Bogdanov, who is the 38th ranked quad wheelchair player in the world and will be representing the United States in May in Portugal, spoke lovingly of his relationship with Howard. He said that Mr. Howard “gave me the opportunity to be active, healthy, and competitive” and had a “tremendous impact” on his life. He attributed his current success to Howard. “He doesn’t just teach tennis, he changes lives,” said Bogdanov. “He teaches for all of us in chairs,” he said.
Bogdanov also explained that there are no other accessible options to play tennis in the Prescott area. “If you take away Chris being able to teach, you’re taking away our ability to play tennis in wheelchairs here,” he said.
He went on to say that he was not there to “beg” the Board and College to give Mr. Howard his job back. He asked that Mr. Howard be at least allowed to use the court so “he can teach tennis as an independent contractor instructor.”
You may view the video of the efforts to address the Governing Board by the nine speakers by clicking here. (The Community College’s audio, unfortunately, is poor.)
Tournament set to run from July 19 through July 21
The Prescott area tennis association has announced it will hold the Yavapai Tennis Tournament July 19-21 at the Community College Tennis complex.
Entry to this tournament is open to USTA Members, USTA Members who have an expired membership and Non-USTA Members. Entries must be submitted by Monday, July 15, 2019 11:59:00 PM Arizona Time.
Divisions for the event consists of:
-Men’s & Women’s Singles- Open, NTRP 3.0-5.0
-Men’s & Women’s Doubles- Open, NTRP 6.0-10.0
-Mixed Doubles- Open, NTRP 6.0-10.0
*All participants are limited to two events and are guaranteed at least two matches per event!
The entry fee is from $33.18 to $38.00. For more information, click here.
College, which has no tennis team, reports at least 18 tennis tournaments held since Complex paid for by all County taxpayers was opened two years ago
When the west side of the County wants money for a major project it can’t afford, it knows the pocketbook of Yavapai Community College, filled with property tax funds from all County residents, is always a possibility. That was the case with the new state-of-the-art professional tennis complex, which opened in December 2015. The City of Prescott contributed $25,000 to the $1.2 million cost of the complex and the local tennis association a little over $100,000.
Local Tennis Association; City of Prescott
The College reported at the November 2018 meeting that the College (aka Prescott Area Tennis Association) had put on six National Tennis Rating sanctioned tournaments and a “minimum” of twelve Grand Prix events during its first two years of operation. These events were all held at the College tennis complex.
The College did not produce income and expense figures related to the use of the complex. The Blog has been informed, but could not verify with data, that retirees are balking at using the facility because of the fees it charges.
Back in 2012, when the concept of the complex was initially approved by the Governing Board, the Board agenda indicates that there would be a $400,000 contribution from outside donors to help with the costs of constructing the complex. However, it appears only about a quarter of that amount was raised and contributed to the cost of the complex. Taxpayers paid for the remainder.
But College releases no information regarding tennis complex operating expenses
Yavapai Community College reported that the million-dollar tennis complex on the Prescott Campus yielded $29,068.54 in revenue during the 2016-17 fiscal year. However, it provided no information regarding the costs of operating the facility for students and the residents of Prescott. Board representative Deb McCasland has asked the College for that information.
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College financed professional tennis courts host big events for City of Prescott
When the City of Prescott wants money for a project it can’t afford, it knows the pocketbook of Yavapai Community College is always available. That was the case when it sought a new state-of-the-art professional tennis complex.
Prescott didn’t have anywhere near enough money for a professional tennis complex. In fact, the best it could muster was $25 thousand dollars. However, the Yavapai Community College administrators were contacted and with a little prodding, they decided to take around $1.3 million dollars of County taxpayer dollars from the College treasury and use it for the Professional complex. They built it, now operate the web site, hired a part-time employee for it, and maintain the complex, which is used mostly by Prescott residents. (The College does not have a tennis team.) The complex was completed in December, 2014 and is already pumping money into Prescott hotels, motels, restaurants and other businesses.
The first major event at the complex was the 2015 Prescott NTRP Memorial Tennis Tournament, which ran from Friday through Sunday, May 22-24,. It showcased 101 entries and 75 players participating in singles, doubles and mixed events for all ability levels and ages in 13 different divisions. The next tennis event is scheduled for Sunday, June 7: The Grand Prix Series. Many other events are planned.
When it comes to local development and where to get money, the folks in Prescott know exactly where to look. If the College is foolish enough to use County taxpayer money from the Verde Valley and elsewhere to fund local projects like a professional tennis complex, the folks in Prescott are smart enough to take the money and run with it.
Administrators and Prescott residents joyous over new tennis complex; some taxpayers weep
The decision by the Yavapai Community College Governing Board to spend
Commentary
more than $1.1 million dollars of taxpayer money for a state-of-the-art tennis complex on the Prescott campus was joyously celebrated December 11 by Prescott dignitaries and the Yavapai Community College administrators. The College paid $840,000 for the tennis courts plus $330,000 for surrounding road repair, drainage, parking lot, lights, etc.) The City of Prescott kicked in $25,000.
For taxpayers not living in the Prescott area, it was a sad day as the College continued its Country-Club-like attitude toward spending scarce County resources on such projects. This project comes as no surprise to Verde Valley residents as it continues a decades-long College mentality of using County taxpayer funds for athletic and cultural projects almost exclusively for the benefit of Prescott area residents. Read More→