Debbie Graham Shaffer
Director
Debbie Graham Shaffer is a highly respected USTA High-Performance National Coach with over 20 years of experience developing talent at every level of the game. Based at the USTA National Training Center in Carson, CA, Debbie has coached players ranging from grassroots Quick Start participants to elite juniors, collegiate standouts, and professional tour athletes.
Under her guidance, teams have captured numerous national and international titles, including gold medals at the Pan Am Games, the Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup, USTA National Team Championships, and several Southern California team events.
As a junior, Debbie was the #1-ranked player in the United States and climbed to #2 in the world. She went on to play at Stanford University, where she remained undefeated in team play, captured three NCAA team championships, won the NCAA singles title, and was twice a runner-up in NCAA doubles. She earned the Broderick Award (now the Honda Sports Award) as the nation's top collegiate tennis player in 1990 and was twice recognized by Tennis Magazine as Rookie of the Year and College Athlete of the Year. She was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame in 2007.
Debbie’s professional career was equally impressive. In 1992, she was named the WTA’s Most Impressive Newcomer. She played for the U.S. Fed Cup team for three years, remaining undefeated, and achieved career-high rankings of Top 10 in the world in doubles and Top 35 in singles.
Beyond the tour, Debbie has made significant contributions as a coach, leader, and mentor. She served as Director of Tennis at Mater Dei High School, where she led the girls’ team to their first-ever California State Championship title—twice. She also launched Little Aces Tennis, a grassroots program that introduced Quick Start tennis into local schools, helping grow the game at the community level. Her lifelong impact on tennis was recognized with her induction into the Southern California Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017.
Debbie currently serves as the Director of Racquets at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, where she continues to inspire players of all ages with her passion, experience, and dedication to the sport.