Meet the Coaches
Mike Kush
Mike Kush “USPTR Certified Tennis Professional” has 25 years of experience. He was the first women’s head coach at Mount Aloysius College and was the Director of Tennis at Sunnehanna Country Club for 10 years. Mike graduated from St. Francis University with honors, earning a BS in Business Leadership. Coach Kush, has been instrumental in the development of many District singles and doubles champions; and 5 nationally ranked juniors are currently training at the Highlander Tennis Academy. They become champions through many hours of quality instruction and hard work.
Parag Dharbhamulla
Parag is a USPTR Certified Tennis Professional and very excited to join the Highlands at North Fork as a tennis professional. Parag grew up learning how to play tennis on the courts of North Fork, having went to school at Westmont and graduating from there in 2012. Parag then went to Penn State University while working at Rolling Rock Country Club teaching tennis during the summers. Parag has also taught tennis privately for several years under Mike Kush. He is currently working on a Master’s degree from Penn State in Applied Statistics.
Bill Aull
Bill Aull has been coaching tennis at North Fork for 13 years and playing for over 50. Bill Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Natural Sciences. In college Bill was a two year starter for Penn State Altoona and reached #4 ranking in Middle States doubles in 1973. Bill also coached the boys and girls tennis teams at Bishop McCort Catholic High School for 14 years and is dedicated to sharing his passion for the game with his students.
Why should kids play tennis with HTA? The HTA staff will provide for all kids learning this great sport of a lifetime a fun environment to learn while receiving quality instructions from our experienced certified staff along with an opportunity for kids to make new friends. Not only is it, in my opinion, the best lifetime sport for physical activity, it’s family friendly as well, so you can play with your kids no matter your ages!
What is your favorite part about training? There’s nothing a tennis coach enjoys more than seeing one of their students reach his/her true potential.
What are the benefits you’ve seen in kids who have played tennis or trained with HTA? Tennis is a problem-solving sport as you try and figure different ways to beat your opponent-these same skills learned will help students problem solve in the real world. Group tennis clinics at the HTA will teach kids how to communicate better with other students who may be different from themselves-these communication skills learned at an early age will help students as they get older and enter into the workplace. Plus kids that play tennis at the HTA also get a great aerobic workout during private and group lessons. These great workouts for kids enhance both their mental and physical skills!
For more information on all of our tennis programs
call 814.288.6988 Ext.#2