Back when Frank Ofori was playing tennis on the ATP tour, he stenciled a smiley face on his racket. It was to remind him to smile during times in the game when he would tense up or get frustrated. Ofori has since given up the tour and started coaching, first in Belfast, Northern Ireland and now at the Peachtree City Tennis Center as the coach in charge of the performance squad for tournament players. The smiley face is still on his rackets and the easy going attitude is something he preaches to all of his players, regardless of age or talent level.

“I want to make sure that all of the players I deal with know that tennis is fun,” Ofori said. “Some players take it way too hard and you have to enjoy it.”

Ofori has enjoyed the sport since he was introduced to it with his older brothers in Accra, Ghana. He had played table tennis before but one day he and his brothers decided to use their father’s old rackets and learn how to play. Ofori was around 10 years old when he started playing, which many consider too late for someone who has dreams of going pro, but he made the semifinals in his first tournament. By the next tournament, he was winning the whole thing and getting a little spending money each time too. He was soon chosen to play in the All African Junior Championships. He made the semi-finals that first time and soon started playing for the International Tennis Federation team every summer. One year, the team traveled around to play other teams in Africa and the next summer they traveled to take on six nations in Europe.

Tennis became Ofori’s life and it led him to the John Newcomb Tennis Academy in Texas and a year in an American high school, followed by a scholarship and a year at California Baptist University. He was voted “Best Player” in the NAIA; he won a total of four titles and was named a two time “All American” after reaching a ranking of #2 in the country. By the time he turned 20, Ofori was ready to go pro, playing on the ATP tour and he had a great time.

“Every week I was in a different country,” said Ofori. “It was very exciting.” Though the schedule was rigorous and most of his time was either spent on a plane, in a hotel or on the tennis courts, Ofori, who is a very personable guy, made friendships that would last lifetimes. He also got to see and play with big stars of tennis and once had an opportunity to practice with Jimmy Connors. Ofori had a good three years on the tour before injuring an ankle and though he would come back several times, he never recovered enough to stay in and stay competitive.

It was as his days playing as a professional were waning that a friend invited him to speak to some kids he was coaching in Belfast. Ofori went over and would go back a few more times in between comeback attempts. Eventually, he stayed on as a coach and that job lasted eight years, until he accepted the job at the Peachtree City Tennis Center, which was brought to his attention by the same friend, Ben Maes, that invited him to Belfast all those years ago.

“Tennis is one thing that I really know well and coaching allows me to give something back,” Ofori said. “Office work isn’t me. Coaching tennis allows me to run, play and entertain, while meeting a lot of different people. It’s great.”

While he has made a name for himself on three continents, his native country has recognized him for his accomplishments by naming him to the country’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and then naming the center court at theNational Sports Stadium there for him as well. Ofori played Davis Cup for his home country for 14 years where he played #1 singles for 13 of those years.

“I’m really honored,” Ofori said. “People named to the Hall of Fame are usually dead, so for me to be able to see it was beautiful.”

Ofori returns to Ghana each year to present a tennis clinic for the young players over there and he is happy to give back to the country that gave him so much. Now, he is looking to share his experience with the rising players at the Peachtree City Tennis Center and his goal is to take at least one player and have him or her go pro.

“I know what it takes and I want to pass those experiences on to a young player,”Ofori declared. “There is a great talent pool here and some of the players only need little touches here or there. They have to be mentally tough and play smarter. In the pros, everybody is good. It is the smarter player who wins.”

He also wants to make sure that everyone has fun, even when they lose.

“When you lose, you’ve still learned something, so you still won something from the match,” Ofori said. He also keeps his racket handy to remind his players to smile when things aren’t going great. It may only bring out a small smile, but Ofori knows that they have loosened up, at least a little, and if you are happy doing something, chances are, you will do it well.

Ofori has only been at the Peachtree City Tennis Center for less than a month, but he has already made an impression on his students and the staff. In fact, some have nicknamed him “Happy,” because of his easy going manner. It is obvious that he is enjoying what he is doing.

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