Alan’s father introduced him to tennis at the age of eight. As a junior, Alan competed at state, sectional, and national levels. He played on the CU Club Team that reached nationals four years in a row.

Alan graduated from CU with a degree in child and neuro psychology, but couldn’t envision using his degree at a desk job. He embraced the idea of utilizing psychology and his love for tennis to help both juniors and adults. Alan believes he can help all his students to reach their full potential as tennis players, and in the case of juniors, to help transfer lessons learned on court to life experiences.

Alan’s longtime coach, Rich Berman, encouraged Alan to attend the Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Academy in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to earn his Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) certification. Alan did just that and has been the cohead teaching professional at Rich’s Tennis School since 2002. Alan enjoys seeing students begin as youngsters, and then years later, head off to college ready to play tennis and ready for the rigors of college academics.  

For Alan, Rich has not only been his coach, but his mentor and friend. He would even go as far to say that Rich has been like a third parent to him—he has influenced him that much. Alan has nothing but love and respect for Rich and all that he has taught him about tennis and life. Alan learned the importance of honesty, being a man of his word, hard work, and perseverance—qualities that have helped him become not just successful on the court, but in life in general.

Alan is also the assistant coach for the Fairview High School Girls’ Tennis Team.

Ryan played doubles and singles for Boulder High School and during Ryan's senior year he secured the #2 singles position. Ryan was introduced to tennis at age 4 by his father, Rich, and his Uncle Jim. For the next many years, Ryan preferred soccer, football, and basketball until age 11. Then Ryan inherited his father's tennis bug and there was no stopping him after that. Ryan's primarily coach was his Uncle Jim (yes, to save the family sanity at the dinner table) with 'subtle' input from Rich. Ryan earned his PTR Professional Certification in 2008. From 2008 to 2013 Ryan was on the professional tennis staff at the Rideau Tennis Club, Ottawa, Canada. During these years Ryan had many responsibilities including being their Director of Junior Development and taught private and group lessons.

"I am delighted to have Ryan back in the fold and working along side Alan and Chad Tsuda. As the Senior Advisor to Rich's Tennis School, I am eager to work with the best teaching staff anywhere."

Alan and Chad are also excited to have Ryan join them.

"I am very excited to have Ryan join the team at Rich's Tennis School and look forward to integrating his knowledge of the game into our program!" says Chad.

And Alan says, "I am so excited to have Ryan join the Rich's Tennis School "Dream Team"! He brings a wealth of experience working with both juniors and adults. He will add another wonderful dimension to our program!"

In 2016, Colorado USTA awarded Rich Berman with it's highest honor of being inducted into Colorado's Tennis Hall of Fame. The video presented during the awards captured Rich's career highlights and shed light on the relationships he built along the way.

Rich Berman, PTR, USPTA Certified
2016 USTA Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee
2014 PTR Wheelchair Professional of the Year
Senior Advisor to Rich's Tennis School

Rich has been playing tennis for over fifty years and teaching for forty. His father was instrumental in getting him on the court, but after hitting only two tennis balls, Rich was hooked for life.

Rich was a ranking junior player in Southern California. His highest ranking was eighth behind would be champions such as Stan Smith and Bob Lutz. Rich played on the junior U.S. Davis squad and later for Cal State (CSU Long Beach), where he earned All-American honors. He has enjoyed a long career as a teaching professional and has held the pro position at: Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, Boulder Country Club, Boulder Valley Racquet Club, and Colony Beach and Tennis Resort (Florida). Rich took his father’s advice in 1975 and opened his own club, South Bay Tennis Center, in Torrance, California. Rich sold this business, moved back to Boulder, Colorado, in 1981, where he cofounded the Colorado Group, a real estate company that remains successful to this day. Restless to return to his roots as a tennis coach, Rich opened Rich’s Tennis School in Boulder in 1990, then built the current facility in Erie in 2004.

The highlights of his career include: coaching David Hall, the six-time No. 1 wheelchair player in the world, five-time Paralympic medalist, and singles gold medalist in the Sydney Paralympics; coaching Chad Tsuda, who was nationally ranked and won two state 5A championship singles titles; and coaching and working side by side with his son, Ryan, Alan and Chad Tsuda. Rich is proud to have coached both Alan and Chad and is now proud and honored to say they are his trusted colleagues and friends.  

Rich is grateful for the mentors in his life throughout his journey with tennis. His father encouraged him to play tennis, even though it was thought of as a “sissy” sport back then. His first coach, Carl Earl, inspired him to become a pro and hired him for his first job when he was nineteen. Rich also worked for Dennis Van der Meer (who was coaching Billie Jean King at the time) and later opened a Dennis Van der Meer franchise known as TennisAmerica. Rich is indebted to his mentors, and he hopes he has inspired Ryan, Alan and Chad, and others, as he has been inspired.