Meet The Pros
Eddie Jacques, USPTA
Eddie Jacques began playing tennis when he was 3 years old, and came to Athletic Club Alabama, then Huntsville Athletic Club, when he was only 8. He played number 1 on the Huntsville High School tennis team in 1990 when they won the Alabama State Championship. Jacques was the individual state champion at number 1 singles and doubles. At his career high, as a junior player, he was 27th in the world. He was a semi-finalist in the Junior US Open, en route beating the current number 1 player in the world. Jacques won the 18 & Under National Clay Court Championships, and was the number 1 recruit in the country coming out of high school.
Jacques went on to the University of Georgia on a full tennis scholarship where he was an All-American. As a senior he was the Southeastern Conference individual champion. He was ranked as high as number 6 in the country in singles and number 11 in doubles. Georgia never finished outside the top 5 during his four years and finished #2 in the final rankings his sophomore and senior season. During his junior and professional career he competed with the likes of Tim Henman, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Nicolas Lapentti, Alberto Costa, Marcelo Rios and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Eddie and his wife, Robyn have two sons, Parker and Houston, who are promising young tennis players. In his free time Eddie enjoys coaching his sons and playing golf.
Rusty Walker, USPTA Tennis & Pickleball
Rusty was born in Cullman, Alabama where he was a two-time state champion and named 1998 Alabama Junior Tennis Player of the Year. He then went on to play four years of Division 1 tennis for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then spent two years an assistant coach at UAB and was a Tennis Professional for Brook Highland Racquet Club. In 2006, Rusty moved to Seaside, Florida where he served as Tennis Director for the Seaside Swim and Tennis Club. In the Fall of 2010, Rusty moved to Huntsville to be the Adult Tennis Director at Athletic Club Alabama. Rusty and his wife, Nell have two children, Ryen and Hannah. Rusty enjoys spending time with his family and doing community outreach with his church.
Jennifer Lyons, USPTA
Jennifer started playing tournament tennis at the age of 7 in Tennessee. She moved to Huntsville in the seventh grade where she played number one for Randolph School, becoming the youngest player ever to win the school sectionals. She transferred to Huntsville High and won the number one state singles and doubles titles, becoming the first ever state singles championship for the school. In juniors she was nationally and southern ranked and was also number 1 in Alabama.
Jennifer played for the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on scholarship, playing number 4 and number 6 singles and number 1 doubles. In 1984 she won the National Subaru Doubles Championship and also played on the Summer European Circuit traveling throughout Europe. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa with a degree in Public Relations. Jennifer was the Adult Player of the Year in 1992 and was ranked number 1 in the 25 and under division in Alabama and in the South. She has a USPTA 1 professional certification. Jennifer and her husband Sage have a daughter Lee and a son Sage. In addition to tennis Jennifer enjoys golf.
Harrison Stone
Harrison is from Daingerfield, Texas. He started playing tennis when he was 9 years old and was coached by pro Eddie Jacques. In high school he ranked number 1 in the state of Alabama and was an Alabama Jr. Qualifier winner. He attended University of Alabama in Huntsville where he played on the men's tennis team.
Harrison is is also an actor and has appeared in various movies and TV shows!
A quote that inspires Harrison is, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
Noah Pring
Noah is from Nailsea, England. He began his tennis career at just 7 years old. In high school, he was ranked number 1 for doubles in the Southwest of England and he was also ranked in the top 100 of England. Noah came to Alabama to play tennis for the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he played at number 1. While attending UAH, he studied Kinesiology, specializing in biomechanics.
Noah enjoys hiking with his dogs, Ace and Millie, going to the gym, playing golf and exploring.
Noah was the youngest level 2 coach in England and coached at 5 different tennis clubs there before coming to the United States for college.
A quote that inspires him is, "There may be people with more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.. and I believe that!" -Derek Jeter
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Ed Jacques Sr., USPTA
Ed has been involved in the tennis industry for over 35 years and brings a wealth of club experience to Athletic Club Alabama. He comes to us from Scottsdale, Arizona where he directed the tennis program at the Scottsdale Athletic Club for 4 years. Before his move to Arizona, he received training in the hospitality arena, as he directed the tennis operations at both the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida, and in Vail, Colorado. Perhaps his most satisfying experience was the eleven years he spent at a country club just north of Birmingham where he began to train his son, Eddie, and watch him rise through junior tennis and then on to become an All-American at the University of Georgia.
Chris Shearburn, USPTA
Chris began playing tennis at the age of 5 and grew up playing USTA’s Western Section in Illinois. He also played throughout his high school years and in 2011 was inducted into the Sterling High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Following high school, Chris earned an athletic scholarship to play tennis for UA Huntsville. After completing his engineering degree and working in that field, he returned to his first career love, tennis. Chris’ experience as a Tennis Professional includes a couple of years at a large club in his hometown of Chicago and a very successful year at Dublin Park in Madison. Chris was also the Head Tennis Professional at the Hampton Cove tennis facility, overseeing the facility’s construction and first 3 years of operation. He has USPTA – P1 and USPTR Professional Certifications. Chris is married to his wife Sybil, who is a fitness professional and an outstanding tennis player as well. Chris and Sybil have one daughter, Sophie, who is also active in tennis.
Sophie Jones
Philip Parker, USPTA Tennis Instructor
Philip has been a member for many years and has developed his passion for learning and playing tennis into helping others. He is a regular USTA League player and has been on multiple State level teams, a Section level team, and has been a Club Champion and a Jack Frost champion.
Starting tennis in his 30s, he brings a novel perspective to coaching adults, whether they are beginners or intermediate-level players looking to correct technical deficiencies in their strokes or tactics. He utilizes video analysis and slow, steady progressions to build, and rebuild proper mechanics and tactics.
Reed Martinson
Reed was born and raised in Huntsville, and has been involved in tennis at ACA since he was 7 years old! Reed began playing tournaments at 13 and trained in the HEAT program under Coach Eddie Jacques from middle school through high school. He played on the Huntsville High School team from 2015-2020 under Coach Reece Morton, and went on to play collegiate tennis all 4 years at Birmingham-Southern College under Coach Jimmy Weinacker. During Reed's time at Huntsville High, the team was invited to participate in the 2020 DecoTurf National Tournament and finished as the state runner-up in 2019. The team finished 1st in the section all 4 years, with the 2020 season being cut short due to Covid-19. During Reed's time at BSC, the Panthers were nationally ranked in 2023 and 2024!
Outside of tennis, Reed enjoys spending time with his fiancee, Becca, and loves to travel.
Abby Cranor
Abby Cranor is an emerging tennis coach with a strong passion for helping players of all levels reach their full potential. Abby has played competitive tennis for 18 years, starting when she was 4. With a background in competitive tennis and a deep understanding of technique, strategy, and mental toughness, Abby brings a fresh perspective and personalized approach to coaching. Focused on building both skill and confidence, Abby strives to create a supportive environment where players can thrive, improve, and enjoy the game.
Abby played for Huntsville High for 5 years as #1 singles and doubles, leading the team to state every year. She was also ranked top 5 in Alabama for 16s while playing for Huntsville High. She went on to coach juniors of all ages and women at Moores Mill Country Club in Auburn and also coached at Pelham Racquet Club.