UC Santa Barbara Nike Tennis Camp Santa Barbara, California
Come join the fun at the UC Santa Barbara Nike Tennis Camp. Gorgeous weather, superb instruction and fun off-court activities make this a wonderful youth summer camp experience. Our goal is for every camper to take their game to the next level, create lasting friendships, and have a good time.
Known all over the world for its exceptional beauty, Santa Barbara boasts stunning scenery and glistening, palm-lined beaches. Our goal is to give players the opportunity to hit thousands of balls, improve their tennis technique, and be challenged by some of the best players in their peer group. The UC Santa Barbara Nike Tennis Camp is a camp for young athletes to come and vastly improve their tennis game, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun.
International Campers Welcome!
International campers seeking a Sport and Language program can find a list of camp sessions and a detailed description of our new programs by Clicking Here. International campers seeking a Sport Only program, a multi-week sport camp experience, can easily combine any of our individual Tennis Camp sessions together with a weekend stay over to create the right camp program to fit your needs!
Highlights Include
- Daily instruction from head coaches Marty Davis and Pete Kirkwood and their experienced staff
- Every camper receives a Nike Tennis Camp T-shirt
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction with low camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers
- Experience campus life and create lasting friendships
UCSB, with low humidity and mild, sunny weather, sits at the ocean’s edge and looks out on the Pacific Ocean. UCSB offers an amazing tennis environment with state-of-the-art athletic facilities and 14 tennis courts.
Meet your coaching staff
Co-Director
Marty Davis
Coach Davis is an exceptionally energetic, former touring professional with a world ranking as high as 47. He was also a three-time NCAA All-American as a collegiate player and is a founding member of the board of directors for the ATP. Recently Coach Davis was honored with an induction into the USTA NorCal Hall of Fame.
Read Full Bio
Marty Davis was named the head coach of the UCSB men's tennis program in 1999 and is now entering his twelfth season in the position. At the end of the 2009 season, he was awarded his fourth consecutive Coach of the Year award, his sixth overall. In the same season, he led the Gauchos to their fourth straight Big West Championship title, upsetting Irvine in the championship match.
No.1 Singles player Philip Therp picked up the Freshman of the Year award in 2007 and, under Marty's guidance, was named Big West Player of the Year in 2008. UCSB then received its second consecutive Player of the Year award as Alex Konigsfeldt took the title the following year.
Davis earned Big West Coach of the Year honors in 2006 after guiding the Gauchos to the 2006 Big West championship and an automatic bid into NCAA Tournament. He was also selected the league's Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2003 after leading the Gauchos to consecutive Big West Conference titles and NCAA bids. The 2006 Gauchos finished the season with a 15-11 record and their No. 1 singles player, Nick Brotman, was named Big West Player of the Year and their No. 2 player, Bijan Hejazi, was selected Big West Freshman of the Year. Last year's Big West title was the program's fourth ever and the third under Davis.
In 2002, not only did UCSB win its first league crown under Davis, but the team's top player, Carlos Palencia, was named Big West Player of the Year and was invited to play in the NCAA Tournament. In his first season at the helm of the UCSB program, he coached senior Simon Shen to an undefeated 20-0 dual match record. Shen finished the year 30-3, advancing to the NCAA Championship after being named Big West Player of the Year.
An accomplished professional player, Davis played 12 years on tour (1980-91), finishing in the top-50 in prize winnings five times. He also finished ranked among the top-100 in singles seven times and he reached a career-high singles ranking of 47th in 1985. During his time as a professional player Davis played in 35 Grand Slam events. He reached the semifinals in doubles at the Australian Open on two occasions and he reached the doubles quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the French Open. Davis posted three ATP singles championships and four ATP doubles titles. Over the years, he recorded wins over such players as Brian Gottfried, Ilie Nastase, Johan Kriek and Aaron Krickstein. Davis is the winningest professional player currently coaching college tennis.
Davis was instrumental in launching the ATP Tour in 1990 as a founding member of the board of directors. Over the years he held several positions with the ATP, including Director of Player Services, manager of the ATP Tour Headquarters Tennis Facility and Director of Licensing. Prior to his arrival in Santa Barbara, Davis was an assistant coach at Cal.
Among his other experiences in the world of tennis, Davis has provided color commentary for ESPN, USA Network and Prime Network.
Davis was a three-time NCAA All-American as a collegiate player at Cal from 1977 through 1980 and helped lead the Golden Bears to four top-ten finishes. In his senior year, Davis' Cal team won the national indoor title and finished second in the NCAA Tournament. In October of 2005, he was inducted into his alma mater's Athletics Hall of Fame. Davis graduated in 1980 with his BA in Economics.
Davis is married to his wife Jill and has two sons. His eldest son, Taylor, is 20 years old and attends UC San Diego. His 18 year old son, Kyle, will graduate from Dos Pueblos High School in June and attend UC Santa Cruz in the fall.
Co-Director
Pete Kirkwood
Coach Kirkwood is in his 17th year as Head Women's Coach for UCSB. During his tenure, the Gauchos have found success at the conference and national level under Kirkwood, earning Big West Conference honors and national rankings
Read Full BioIn 2007, the Gauchos battled through an injury-plagued year, finishing 10-11 overall and 4-3 in the Big West Conference. In 2006, the Gauchos finished with a 13-9 overall record, a Big West mark of 5-2 and a No. 70 national ranking. In 2005, UCSB bounced back from a subpar 2004 campaign with a 15-9 overall record, a 5-2 mark in the Big West and a fourth-place league tournament finish. In addition, in 2006, Marielle Gruenig earned First Team All-Big West honors and in the process she became one of just a handful of players to earn First Team honors three times. In 2003, Uzma Khan earned Big West Player of the Year honors after becoming the first UCSB player to go undefeated at 24-0 in dual matches. In 2002, the Gauchos struggled through a tough team schedule but found success at the No. 1 and 2 singles spots where Uzma Khan and Cindy Ammann combined for a 48-8 record and earned All-Big West First Team honors. In 1999, Kirkwood orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in program history. The Gauchos finished 1999 with a 20-7 record after recording only four wins in each of the previous two seasons. UCSB was the No. 1 seed going into the 1999 Big West Championship and the Gauchos' No. 1 player Cindy Ammann was named Player of the Tournament.
Kirkwood served as interim coach in 1995 and was named head coach in 1996. He led the 1996 Gauchos to their sixth straight Big West Conference title. His team also won the 1995 Big West title and he was named co-Big West Coach of the Year.
In 1996, UCSB's No. 1 singles player Jean Okada advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors. The Gauchos finished the 1996 season ranked 37th in the nation. Okada finished the year ranked 30th while the doubles team of Kelly Spencer and Amelia White finished the season ranked 17th nationally.
In 1995, Kirkwood guided the Spencer-White doubles tandem to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships and in doing so, they were the first Gauchos to earn NCAA All-American status.
Kirkwood served as an assistant coach for four years prior to becoming head coach and was a major part of UCSB's rise on the national scene. In each of his four years as an assistant coach, the Gauchos won the Big West Conference Championship.
Kirkwood has served as an instructor in the Exercise and Sports Studies Department at UCSB for 14 years. He also has taught locally at the Cathedral Oaks Club.
Kirkwood, a Goleta, Calif., native, began his own tennis career at Santa Barbara City College where he earned First Team All-Western States Conference honors in 1980 and 1981. He attended Cal State Bakersfield and was First Team All-CCAA in 1983. He was also a member of the Cal State Bakersfield NCAA Division II National Championship runner-up squad in 1982.
Kirkwood received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Cal State Bakersfield in 1984.
Program Info
This year we are offering three weeks of Overnight, extended day (8:30am-9:00pm) and day camp (8:30am-4:30pm) for boys and girls ages 9-18 of all abilities. Overnight campers must be at least 10 years old. Lunch and dinner are included for Extended Day Campers. Lunch is included for Day Campers.
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week.
Check-in and Check-out times:
Check-in: Overnight campers 1:00-2:00pm on first day of session (Sunday)
Day campers 1:30-2:00pm on first day of session (Sunday) (All Day campers will depart that afternoon at 4:30pm.)
Graduation: All campers at 11:00am Friday at the Rob Gym Tennis Courts. Parents are invited to attend! (Park at the lot on Stadium Road across the street from “new high rise” parking structure.)
Check-out: Immediately after graduation.
Day Program Schedule
• A complete schedule will be given to you at check-in.
• Monday-Thursday:
Day campers: 8:30am-4:00pm
Extended Day Campers: 8:30am-9:00pm
• Sunday: 1:30 Check-in / Friday: 11am graduation
• Lunch and dinner are included for Extended Day Campers. Lunch is included for Day Campers.
Dorms
Campers stay in campus dorms. There are 2-4 campers per room and they are assigned by age and roommate requests.
Evening Activities
Off-court and evening activities may include bowling, beach bbq, and movie night.
Weekend Stayovers: Weekend Stayovers are not available at this location
Designated Airport: Santa Barbara Airport
Travel/Airport Transportation
Nike Tennis Camps does not provide transportation to/from camp from airport, train stations or bus depots. Transportation is not provided to/from the airport to camp. Transportation services can be arranged from the Santa Barbara Airport or Los Angeles Airport. Please call Yellow Cab at 805-965-5111. Or you can look up local taxis whose numbers you can find at www.flysba.com. Transportation from Los Angeles International Airport can also be arranged by calling Roadrunner Shuttle at (805) 389-8196. The cost is approx. $80 per person, and $10 each additional person. The Los Angeles Airport is approx.2.0 hours from campus. If your camper is arriving by air and is an unaccompanied minor or would like to be met by a staff member at the airport, please provide us with your flight information, at least two weeks prior to camp. (1-800-645-3226)
Registration Packet
A detailed camper registration packet containing check in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers in the Spring. Our health and release forms do not require a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
Sample Daily Schedule
- SUNDAY
- 2:30pm-3:00pm Introduction, Photo
- 3:00pm-4:30pm Evaluation
- 4:30pm-4:45pm Day Camper pick up
- 4:30pm-5:30pm Shower/Clean Up
- 5:30pm-6:00pm Dinner
- 6;00pm-9:00pm Dorm Orientation, Camper Tour, Free Time
- 9:00pm-10:00pm Quiet Time
- 10:00pm Lights Out
- MONDAY-THURSDAY
- 7:00am-7:30am Wake Up
- 7:30am-8:15am Breakfast
- 8:15am-8:30am Day and Extended Day Campers arrive
- 8:30am-9:00am Stretching, Warm-Up, Daily Preview
- 9:00am-11:15am Instruction, Drills and Video Analysis
- 11:30am-1:30pm Lunch Break, Swimming and Activities
- 1:30pm-4:30pm Instruction, Drills and Video Analysis
- 4:30pm-4:45pm Day Camper Pick Up
- 4:30pm-5:30pm Shower/Clean Up
- 5:30pm-6:00pm Dinner
- 6:00pm-9:00pm Evening Activities (Bowling, Movie Night, Beach Party, Video Night)
- 9:00pm-9:15pm Extended Day Pick Up
- 9:00pm-10:00pm Free Time
- 10:00pm Lights Out
- FRIDAY
- 7:00am-7:30am Wake Up
- 7:30am-8:15am Breakfast
- 8:15am-8:30am Day and Extended Day Campers arrive
- 8:30am-11:00am Team Competition
- 11:00am-Noon Graduation
- Noon Check Out
Past Camper
Gaining Confidence
The staff was very helpful they helped alot wtih increasing the tequnique and pace of the ball. Camp gave me the confidence and skills i needed to enhance my game!
Past Camper
Fostering Friendships
I had a great time at the Nike Tennis Camp UCSB. I am planning on returning next summer to see the friends I made during my stay and to meet new friends as well. I also enjoyed how much I learned from the counselors as well as Coach's Davis and Kirkwood.
Past Camper
Inspired!
The camp staff was great. Marti Davis is awesome and inspiring. It was worth it just to meet him.
Parent of Camper
Such a blast!
My son, age 12, had a blast. He swiftly joined the USTA upon arriving home from camp. Thank you for inspiring him to love tennis.
Parent of Camper
Enthusiasm and Learning
The UCSB tennis camp was great! Peter learned a great deal and has had more enthusiasm for the sport. He is looking forward to attending next year. Thanks for a great experience!