New Rochelle Racquet Club :: Tennis and Racquetball in New Rochelle, Westchester, New York

(914) 636-1003

 Staff

Brian Vanderheiden, Director of Tennis since 2002 brings almost 20 years of experience in the tennis industry to the New Rochelle Racquet Club.  He grew up in Nebraska and Arizona as a sectionally ranked junior and played Division I college tennis at the George Washington University in Washington, DC before graduating in 1992.  A certified USPTA professional since 1992, Brian has spent his teaching career working at different types of clubs in the industry including John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona; the Maidstone Club in East Hampton, New York; the Jupiter Island Club in Hobe Sound, Florida; and the Bellehaven Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Before coming to the New Rochelle Racquet Club, he was the Director of Tennis during the summers at the Cooperstown Country Club in Cooperstown, New York from 1999-2001.  In his 9 years as the Director of Tennis, he has built a very qualified tennis professional staff and has increased the participation in the Junior Development and Pee Wee programs from 550 students to almost 750 in the most recent session.  Brian is married to Shannon and they have a 7 year old son Tommy.

Hugh O'Donnell was a number one tennis and squash scholarship player at Fordham University, and has 33 years of teaching experience.  For 15 years he was the Director of Tennis at New Rochelle Racquet Club, for Future Stars, as well as the Director of the Future Stars Summer Camps at Manhattanville and SUNY Purchase.  For the past 19 years, Hugh has taught at New Rochelle Racquet Club and serves as the founding director of our Summer Camps, and as our Director of Special Events.

Jack Hysaj’s love for tennis began when he was the same age as some of his youngest students.  Born in Albania, he started playing tennis at the age of 6, taught by his uncle Joseph.  He played during his college years at Tirana University, playing first doubles and singles, then came to the US in 1991.  Over the years, Jack has taught at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, Stadium Racquet Club and during the outdoor summer months, at New York Athletic Club.  Jack came to the New Rochelle Racquet Club in 2001.  A USPTA certified teaching professional Jack is blessed with a lovely wife and two precious daughters.

Steve Brunstein comes to the New Rochelle Racquet Club after experience as a teaching pro and women’s league director at the Long Beach Tennis Center.  In the summers, Steve is the Director of Tennis Programming at Camps Baco and Che-Na-Wah, a family-owned brother/sister sleep away camp in the Adirondacks.  Steve has a Masters degree in social science education from the University of Florida.  "However, after 2 years of teaching high school history, geography, and economics, Steven decided that he preferred teaching his students how to effectively hit a fuzzy yellow ball!"

Lonny Aronstein, our ‘Pee Wee legend,’ has been with us since the ‘90’s.  A former yoga and fitness instructor, girls and boys gymnastics varsity coach, and physical education teacher, Lonny has a Masters degree in Physical Education from Lehman College.  Lonny also graduated Cum Laude from Temple University with an Education degree.  He has been teaching and loving tennis for over 35 years. 

Lester Li, was born in Hong Kong.  His love for tennis came in 1984 when Lester began playing and he soon thereafter, became USPTA certified as a tennis professional in 1992.  Lester’s philosophy of tennis for life and his love for the sport has brought him to New Rochelle Racquet Club, teaching here since 2002.  

Marcelo Graca played several challenge and satellite professional tournaments in his career.  He was always in the top 10 rankings at his native Sao Paolo, Brazil and ranked  #3 in 18 and unders as a junior player.  Marcelo was also the head pro for 15 years at the Sao Paolo State, a prestigious and competitive club, where several stars were born and developed.  Those include 7 national champions.  Marcelo’s career is also marked by coaching for 4 years for the 14 and under National Championship and World Cup Championship.  He has been with New Rochelle Racquet Club since the fall of 2005.

Albert Anim is a certified USPTA/PTR teaching professional who has been with the New Rochelle Racquet Club since 2004.  He is a graduate of the Universite de Poitiers in Angouleme, France.  Albert competed in most International Tennis Federation and Euro-African competitions.  During his summers, Albert teaches at the NYAC on Traver’s Island. 

William Matthew, has over 20 years of quality teaching experience on the tennis court.  He has completed the course at Dennis Van Der Meer Tennis Academy and USTA’s level 1 Sport Science course.  Prior to coming to the New Rochelle Racquet Club in 2000, William has worked with nationally ranked juniors in his native country of Antigua.  He was also the Tennis Director of two of the local exclusive resorts on the island.  William has also taught at the Bronxville Field Club for 7 years.  His love of teaching the fundamentals of tennis is what he enjoys the most.
Dean Won played and captained his team at North Rockland High School.  He followed that with Division I tennis at Manhattan College, captaining his senior year.  Dean currently spends his summers as head pro at the Larchmont Yacht Club.