4 minute read
Center Court Spotlight on Coach Marco Pineda
A journey of passion, dedication, and empathy comes full circle
The next time you see MAC Tennis Pro Marco Pineda on the court, look for that spark in his eye. That spark says a lot about his personal story — one that includes sacrifices and the dedication necessary to improve as a player and as a person.
Born and raised in Southern California, the son of immigrant parents, Pineda remembers the first time he and his father walked out on a local tennis court just to have some treasured father and son time. He was five years old. This moment started his remarkable tennis journey, which changed his life forever and provided him opportunities he and his family had only dreamed of. “My dad introduced tennis to me, and I gravitated to it in a big way.” Pineda recalls. “I learned that quality time on the court meant something. I did not have professional trainers or coaches, just my dad and I hitting together at the local public tennis center. I was committed to making the most of every time we would play.”
As a young teen, he took personal responsibility for his momentum in the sport. “My dad never signed me up for tournaments; that was my responsibility. I only asked my parents for checks to enter tournaments.“ Pineda continues, “I entered almost any and every tennis tournament I could find in the area.”
Pineda admits that his tennis career was never an easy road. “When I was in middle school, I lost more matches than I won, but I wasn’t discouraged. Something inside me made me want to work harder. I did not want to let my parents down. I wanted to keep improving. Taking ownership of my play and investing in myself to get better made a huge difference. I learned to expect a lot of myself.”
He found plenty of opportunity and inspirational talent while building his skills in the highly competitive Southern California tennis scene. “When I was in high school, my dad took me to watch college matches, which motivated me to think, ‘I want to play college tennis too.’”
Pineda is the first person in his family to attend a university. “I am proud that I not only attended college but that I was given an athletic scholarship to play tennis!” Tennis opened the door for him to attend Gonzaga University and thrive in a highly competitive Division 1 program.
Thanks to mentors who supported him through many of the adversities a first-generation college student faces, he flourished. “I was surrounded by mentors and an academic advisor who make a huge difference in my life beyond the court.” Pineda took full advantage of his quality education at Gonzaga. By his senior year, he was an ITA Academic All-American as well as a West Coast Conference All-Academic Award winner. “I took pride in balancing the tennis side of life with the academic side.”
Pineda soon learned that his passion for the game spilled over into other areas of his life. After graduating, he stayed on as assistant coach and continued his education at Gonzaga, eventually earning his master’s degree. Pineda’s enthusiasm to teach and coach the game became as important as playing it. “I picked up the passion of being a college coach and helping other student athletes along the way. I wanted to give back and help others as I was helped.”
When Pineda moved to Portland to be an assistant at Lewis & Clark University, he and the head coach started a junior tennis academy. His ability to relate to players through coaching nourished his passion to give back to the game. “I discovered that through developing a trusting relationship with my players I could provide them with a roadmap, give them a path to enjoy their game, and compete at whatever level they wanted.”
MAC Head Tennis Coach Paul Reber hired Pineda three summers ago and promoted him to Associate Head Coach of Junior Tennis last winter. “Helping kids develop their personal goals for the game and eventually reach their dream is really exciting to me. I see myself in some of these young kids.” Pineda loves to teach, to inspire, and have fun with the players he coaches. “I want to help create a place at MAC where kids (and adults) who enjoy playing tennis can meet their passion and have fun with no limitations on how far they want to progress in the game.”
Pineda’s philosophy is simple: “Making personal investments in players helps players invest in themselves.” He goes on, “As a love for the game and more dedication to improve develops, the importance of structure and self-discipline are the necessary ingredients to help players want to improve and grow into the game.”
Marco Pineda is making a difference at MAC, one tennis player at a time. From a 45-year-old dusting off their high school racquet to a seasoned player looking for the next rung on the endless tennis ladder to a child who wonders what playing tennis will be like, all will notice that spark of encouragement in Pineda’s eyes. He wants to meet each individual where they are as a player, and join them as they achieve their tennis aspirations.
His passion for the game, his eagerness to help someone believe in themselves — even if it is a little scary at first — is what brings a smile to Pineda’s face and that familiar spark to his eye. He’s sharing the game that changed his life!
