East Coast Elite Tennis

About Us

Qualified Tennis Professionals

At the Southern Recreation Center, East Coast Elite Tennis offers a complete pathway for players of all levels to elevate their game. Whether you're seeking private instruction, semi-private lessons, or our doubles teamwork and specific skill clinics, our focus is on helping every player gain a deeper understanding of the sport.

Our experienced coaches - including USPTA-certified professionals, community trainers, and former college players - emphasize technique, strategy, and confidence. Through customized lessons, players improve stroke fundamentals, court awareness, and shot selection, leading to smarter match play and greater consistency under pressure.

We believe that with better understanding comes more enjoyment. By learning to manage match nerves and applying solid technique and tactical thinking, players can find true confidence and fun in every game. Whether you're new to tennis or looking to refine your competitive edge, the Southern Recreation Center is the perfect place to take your tennis to the next level.

Our coaching team

Jamie D’Agostini, Director of Junior Development and Academy

Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, Jamie D'Agostini started playing competitive tennis and soccer at age nine but quickly turned his attention toward tennis full time because he loved it so much. In high school, Jamie was a member of four state championship teams, along with competing in the USTA as a nationally ranked junior.

Jamie went on to attend the University of Hartford on a tennis scholarship. After four years of collegiate tennis and a major in history, he began his tennis teaching/coaching career in 1999. As a member of the USPTA, he worked at the Westport Tennis Club and Burning Tree Country Club. In 2011, he moved to Southern California to further pursue his tennis career. While in California, Jamie was Head Tennis Professional for the Wyatt Russell Tennis Academy in Costa Mesa, CA.

Jamie coached four seasons of collegiate tennis with his wife at Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI. In May of 2024, Jamie and his family moved to Palm Coast, FL.

Oleksandr “Alex” Bielinskyi

Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, Alex is a hardworking tennis coach committed to training athletes from beginner levels to advanced. Providing tennis instruction since 2013, Alex uses his diverse background promoting a love of tennis. Prior to coaching, Alex completed globally and possesses a distinguished personal tennis record. He is a diligent coach trained in exercise, skills improvement and team development techniques. His experience includes working with players of different skills levels to develop talent, improve strength and enhance stamina for top gameplay and offers 10+ years of specific training to junior players.

Accomplishments:

· Candidate Master of Sports in Ukraine in 2009

· Master of Sports in Ukraine in 2011

· UTR (Universal Tennis Tour) best ranking: 13.97 - singles

· ITF (International Tennis Federation) best ranking: 25 - singles

· ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) best ranking: 665 - singles; 577 – doubles

· Three times Champion of Ukraine

· Champion ITF Futures Telavi Open 2016 (Telavi, Georgia)

· Finalist ITF Futures 2016 (Antalya, Turkey)

· Finalist ITF Futures Moscow Open 2016 (Moscow, Russia)

· Finalist ITF Futures 2017 Cherkassy ( Cherkassy, Ukraine)

· Finalist ITF Futures 2017 Egypt F38 (Cairo, Egypt)

· Finalist ITF Futures 2017 Shymkent Open (Shymkent, Kazakhstan)

· Finalist UTR Slovenia Men's, Portoroz, August 2021

· Finalist UTR Germany Men's, Mulheim an der Ruhr, September 2021

· Champion ITF Futures 2022 Doboj Open 2022 (Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

· Champion ITF Futures 2022 Standard Bank Open 2022 ( Maputo, Mozambique)

· Finalist ITF Futures 2022 Bright Trophy 2022 ( Constanta, Romania)

· Champion of Odessa County, Ukraine 2019.

· Established the Bielinskyi Tennis Academy

Alex has coached in Ukraine, Russia, and the United States during his career and current resides in Palm Coast.

Joe Frascogna

Originally from Long Island, New York, Joe has a lifelong background in competitive sports (specifically tennis) and 20+ year experience in private tennis coaching. Joe played tennis at the collegiate level, competing for both Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA). After competing personally, Joe began his tennis coaching career as Assistant Men and Women’s Tennis Coach at Kutztown University. Known for creating a fun yet disciplined training environment that builds technical skills, match awareness, and mental toughness. He combines extensive tournament experience with proven leadership overseeing multiple tennis facilities and developing successful players of all ages and skill levels.

Joe is a USPTA Certified Tennis Professional, SafeSport Trained, and CPR/First Aid Certified. He is an avid player and plays competitively in local tennis leagues.

Jorika Steyn

Originally from South Africa, Jorika has a background in elementary education. Prior to serving in Palm Coast, she worked as a tennis instructor for ladies’ league teams, junior tennis coordinator (10 years and under) and instructor for Center Court, a privately owned club in Flanders, New Jersey. She is a PTR-certified tennis teaching professional with 25 years of experience. She has been part of the tennis instructional team at Southern Recreation Center since 2014, where led the red and orange ball junior tennis rallies. Jorika is still an avid tennis player and plays on various leagues.

strategic advisory team

Dennis J Rowan

USPTR-Certified Tennis Professional:

2020-present Tennis Professional, Idle Hour Tennis Club
2006- 2020 Tennis Pro, Healthplex, Springfield, PA
2000-2010 Director of ESF Tennis Camp Haverford, PA.
1993- 1998 Head men’s/women’s coach Kutztown University; Coached teams

to their first NCAA Tournament; Five time nominee for Coach of the Year

1985-1988 Director of Tennis, Head Pro, Whitford CC, Exton, PA
1983-84 Head Pro Kennett Square CC, Kennett Square, PA
1990-2005 Director of Tennis and Golf K Club in Antigua / Barbuda. (Winters)

Men’s International Professional Tennis:

1984 - 1988 Circuit player

Charitable Events

1991–1999 American Heart Association, organized and played

Education:

MFA Temple University
BA Villanova University
VanderMeer Tennis U

Other:

Produced 20 MSTA Hall of Fame videos featuring Billie Jean King, Ted

Tinling, etc.

Merrill Brick

Experience:

Member, Board of Directors of the John W. Brick Foundation.
Vice President of Special Projects, Planet Fitness Growth Partners/Brick Group (PFGP) – one of the largest privately held Planet Fitness franchises in the Planet Fitness enterprise with currently 125 fitness clubs in Maryland, Washington DC, Tennessee, Florida, Washington, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Australia
Owner/General Manager, The Orlando Fitness and Racquet Club, 21 years
USPTA Certified Tennis Professional

- City Island Tennis Center, Daytona Beach, FL

- Indigo Lakes Tennis Club, Daytona Beach, FL

- Ocean’s Racquet Club, Daytona Beach Shores, FL

- The Orlando Fitness and Racquet Club, Orlando, FL

Volusia County Teacher (High School), 20-years – Daytona Beach, Florida

- Teacher: Business education

- Coach: Football, basketball, tennis

Personal athletics: high school football (high school, college), basketball, and track