RRC Rafael Racquet Club

Lisa Barry Berg

Tennis Director

Lisa was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began playing tennis at the age of 8, just a tad bit taller than the net. She was lucky enough to be a part of a small group of kids that was coached by Don Holden, AKA Mister. He learned the game by reading books and watching tapes and in just 4 years Lisa was ranked #2 in singles and #1 in doubles nationally. She loved the game as well as travelling around to the tournaments and meeting new people throughout the country.

Lisa went on to play college tennis at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, playing #1 singles and doubles. Four years as a Cowboy was a lot of fun, and the team aspect was a nice change from the individuality of the sport. Lisa was selected Most Outstanding Female Athlete at OSU her senior year.

Lisa taught tennis at several tennis clubs in Tulsa in the 70’s and her first big job was that of coaching the women’s team at Oral Roberts University. She then left Tulsa and ventured off to paradise, Hawaii. She spent 3 years on the Big Island of Hawaii (in Hilo) and taught the “locals” and learned from Mister how to coach top ranked kids. Next was Maui, where Lisa got the job offer of a lifetime. Teaching tennis at the Hyatt Regency in Kaanapali, 50 yards from the beach. Lisa continued training the local kids, but also taught some exciting hotel guests (George Lucas, Chevy Chase, Sally Field, Gladys Knight, and many more).

Lisa began her career at RRC in September 1989 and is still thrilled to be here 34 years later.

Rafael Racquet Club is like a second home to Lisa (she spends more time here than at home it seems) where her two kids grew up playing tennis. Her son Conor played college tennis for the University of New Mexico where he enjoyed a successful career and received several Mountain West Conference honors. Conor played Futures tournaments in the US and abroad and has earned career high ATP rankings of 918 in singles and 666 in doubles.  Her daughter Hadley has played nationally and internationally as well, and in 2013 was one of four juniors to receive the Bill Talbert Sportsmanship Award.  She played college tennis at University of South Carolina and became an All American in 2016.

Lisa is very devoted to the game of tennis as she is a 36 year member of the USPTA, a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff, a lifetime member of the USTA, served on the USTA Norcal Junior Tennis Council, the USTA Norcal High Performance Coaches Commission (to help scout hot new Jr. players), and was inducted into the Oklahoma District Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.  Lisa was inducted into the Marin County Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018 and in 2020 she entered into the Tulsa Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lisa Berg

 

415-456-1837