HighFIVE: Chris Croxton
H5 Episode 37 / Spring 2020 / by Katie Newell
For Chris Croxton, General Manager of the Denver Tennis Park, tennis is more than a sport. It’s at the core of who he is, and why he’s committed to giving others opportunities to get involved.
Receiving free tennis lessons as a 7th grader from coach, Tariq Abdul Hamid, and immeasurable help from his other coach, Sam Hitman, Chris played at Denver East starting at No. 4 doubles then working his way up No. 1 singles his last two years. He then went on to play at Pomona College all four years. His career has spanned working at JCC, Gates Tennis Center, CAC Inverness and his home now at Denver Tennis Park.
His mission? To help youth grow in his community and to make tennis accessible for everyone, especially those who typically wouldn’t be able to afford tennis lessons or have a place to play.
“Tennis can be a huge part of a healthy life,” Chris says about knowing how the sport can benefit lives of all ages. “Whether someone only wants to play recreationally, or be the next great player, I just want them to be able to fit tennis in their life somehow.”
DTP, which consists of 7 indoor courts and 6 outdoor courts, is a youth-centered, publically accessible home base for a wide variety of community youth tennis programs and outreach programs, as well as the home courts for Denver Public Schools Athletics and the University of Denver. Offering robust tennis programming, the facility and team is committed to bringing high quality programs in at accessible price points, offering scholarships and providing outreach programs for all kids to get involved.
“It’s really exciting! We are unbelievably slammed,” Chris said about the buzzing on-site and outreach programs, which create some great volunteer opportunities. “We are always looking for volunteers who want to be involved in teaching athletic skills, nutrition, yoga, tennis drills and whatever else can help youth develop positively,” he said emphasizing that being a good tennis player is not a requirement – just that they love working with kids.
Thrilled that he was able to turn his passion into a career, he goes to work every day excited that he gets to do what he loves.
“I have the freedom to continue to learn and grow,” he said about working at DTP and staying committed to the mission at hand.
MidFirst Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks and this combination of size and private ownership provides our customers with a special brand of banking. We are a strong supporter of the communities we serve, investing time and money in important educational, charitable and civic organizations. Our volunteerism is powered by our employees from all of the communities in which we live and share with our customers. MidFirst Bank is a proud partner of USTA Colorado.
