HighFIVE: Marc Knutila

The following HighFIVE profile appears in the 2018 Spring issue of Colorado Tennis newspaper.

About ten things had to fall into place for Marc, contractor with the City of Colorado Springs to have the opportunity to run tennis programs at all of the city’s 50+ tennis courts. Lucky for everyone who loves the game, the balls all bounced the right way. Now heading into his fourth year and focused on four of the major facilities, Marc has a mission to make sure anyone who wants to play the sport of tennis in Colorado Springs has a program to join.

“We have programs for anyone, at any level, at a city price — beginner adult, advanced adult, and everything in between and just as importantly, the same thing for kids,” Marc said about the word he hopes to keep spreading about tennis in his community.

Growing up in Albuquerque, he played baseball and soccer, but it was tennis that eventually earned his focus, appreciating that it’s a lifetime sport that challenges you individually. “Tennis is the combination of it being both an individual and team sport. It really is the best of both worlds — still just you playing out there — but competing for your teammates and your friends,” he said.

Marc played tennis at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He was given the opportunity to teach at the IMG Nick Bollettieri Tennis & Sports Academy in Florida, where he coached collegiate players from around the country. Yet he still didn’t realize that he could earn a living at the sport he loved. After college Marc was an associate at a financial firm and then a reporter in Minnesota. But it wasn’t until he agreed to run the junior groups in Colorado Springs “just for fun” that the seed was planted that he belonged in a tennis career.  Five years later and the program has exploded. Beginning with just 70 kids at one site in his first year, Marc now works with more than 400 juniors, and coordinates programming for adults as well. He has five tennis coaches under him and still coaches at two private high schools, St. Mary’s and Colorado Springs School.

While Colorado Springs offers programs to suit everyone at every level, Marc is most excited about the Junior Play Day Program — 15 sessions where any kid, 7-13 years of age, at any level — can play, which was made possible due to a grant from USTA Colorado.

“This is a program about everyone improving together — learning to encourage and support others,” he said. “New kids can take that next step without a coach hitting them a ball, and for more advanced kids it gets them some additional competition without having to travel so far, making more local relationships.”

When asked about his long term goal Marc explains, “that we would be able each year to add new programs — never getting content and always looking for new opportunities and players. Also to continue making tennis more accessible. If you create good programs that are truly worthwhile, it’s a win for the community.”

For more about these programs or volunteering, please visit SpringsTennis.com.  

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