Pat Malone has been named as a United State Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Local Leader Liaison (LLL) for northeast Arkansas, according to a release from USTA Southern.
Malone’s goal will be to work with USTA Southern, USTA Arkansas, the Northeast Arkansas (NEA) Tennis Association and clubs and facilities to grow tennis. Malone’s region includes 14 counties centered around Jonesboro.
For more than 30 years, Malone has coached and organized tennis at private clubs and public facilities. He is a U.S. Professional Tennis Association certified professional and works with several parks and recreation departments including Batesville, Jonesboro, and Paragould to deliver certified public tennis programming. He played the top line for Lyon College in 1985 and 1987 and also served as head men’s and women’s coach for the college in 2007.
USTA Southern, which covers nine southern states and represents nearly 25 percent of the national members, has tasked Malone with serving as a conduit between the various USTA organizations and acting as the liaison between local tennis organizations to increase tennis participation. Another responsibility is to advocate for construction or repair of municipal tennis courts and to reach out to residents or groups with little or no experience in the sport.
“These individuals will be ambassadors for tennis who will enhance the awareness of tennis as a great sport for all ages with the goal of increasing participation,” said Randy Jackson, USTA vice president and LLL Task Force co-chair. “Each of our new local leader liaisons have impressive credentials, positive attitudes and are already making good things happen in their areas.”
Malone is one of three local leader liaisons contracted by Southern. The other two are Kerri Becker, of New Orleans, and Rivers Humber, of Clarksdale, Miss.
Pat Malone USTA Southern Local Leader Liaison / Image USTA Southern
