Tennis Coach #196: Kim Bastable - What's the One Hard Thing Rule?

On The Coaching Podcast, we’re joined by Kim Bastable, Director of Professional Tennis Management at the University of Florida and visionary behind the first university-based program dedicated to the business and leadership of the racquets industry. A former NCAA All-American and SEC Champion for the Gators, Kim believes that a leader’s first job is to coach themselves, and only then can they coach those they lead. Guided by John Wooden’s reminder that “We need to treat them all the same, differently,” she challenges the outdated approach of coaching the game without attention to the person, inspiring future leaders to create environments where athletes and employees truly thrive.

About Kim Bastable

Kim Bastable is the creator and lead instructor of the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports program, the first-of-its-kind university-based curriculum focused on leadership and business in the racquets industry. With over 40 years of experience, Kim has held leadership roles at clubs and universities, coached at the collegiate and junior levels, and earned certifications in mental performance, leadership, and racquet sports instruction. A top-ranked Gator tennis player in the 1980s, she was an NCAA All-American, three-time SEC champion, and has since become a certified tennis professional, elite racquet sports coach, and Level 2 padel coach. Kim holds a Master’s in Positive Coaching Psychology from the University of Missouri and a B.S. in Finance from UF, as well as advanced certifications from Notre Dame University, the Human Performance Institute, and Peak Performance Sports. She and her husband, Jack, live in Kansas City and enjoy traveling to visit their 16 grandchildren while she continues to run UF’s remote online programs.

Website: https://www.uf-dors.com
Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-bastable-uf/