Meet Our Coaches
Our team of certified coaches are the best in the city. They can play and teach. Work with our top notch teaching pros today.
Emir Hamzić
Emir Hamzić is the founder and president of Hamzić All American Training. With a passion for developing players and growing the sport, Emir established the academy to serve the Chicago tennis and pickleball community. His vision of combining tennis and pickleball training has made the academy a pioneer in multi-sport racquet training.
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Ivan Teterin
Ivan Teterin leads our tennis program with expertise and dedication. As Tennis Director, Ivan oversees all tennis instruction and ensures our coaching standards remain at the highest level. His technical knowledge and teaching ability make him an invaluable member of our team.
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SPF Academy Coaches
Matt Schapiro
Matthew Schapiro is a 5.0+ pickleball player and former competitive tennis player who coaches players of all ages and levels, from new players to advanced competitors. He focuses on building strong fundamentals, developing powerful and repeatable groundstrokes, confident forehands and serves, and making smart, high-percentage decisions under pressure. Before transitioning fully into pickleball, Matthew taught junior tennis at Nike Tennis Camps, working with players across a wide range of ages and skill levels.
Specialties
Eric Zito
Passionate educator and lifelong racket-sport athlete, Eric Zito brings over a decade of experience as a tennis professional into his work as a pickleball coach. Equipped with a PhD from Loyola University Chicago, Eric is able to translate sophisticated approaches into clear, engaging instruction for players of all levels. Known for an uplifting and strategic coaching style, he emphasizes technique, fundamentals, and smart decision-making. Eric is committed to fostering player development and a lasting love for the game.
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Aaron Goldberg
Aaron is an avid pickleball player and certified coach. He began playing tennis at a young age and played 4 years at Oak Park River Forest High School in the Chicago suburbs. During college and the ensuing years he picked up racquetball at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. He found his true racquet sport love with pickleball in early 2022. Since then, he has grown into a serious competitor who has won and medaled in multiple high level amateur tournaments. Aaron is open to teaching all ages, as well as individual and group coaching sessions.
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Gordon Elson
Gordon Elson is 4.8 rated DUPR player that actively competes and routinely medals in 4.5+ rated tournaments. Gordon has a passion for helping players unlock their potential through learning the basics from point construction & shot making to tournament strategy. He looks forward to getting on the court with you and help you grow as a player and achieve your goals!
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Gina Tsagalis
Gina is a level 1 RPO certified coach who believes that improvement should be fun and confidence building. She focuses on building solid fundamentals and smart strategy all while bringing a calm and positive presence on court.
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Natalija Todorovic Shaw
Natalie is a US Open Champion and ranked Top 10 Senior Pro Women. Natalija brings tournament experience together with a player centered coaching approach that works for beginners through advanced competitors. She tailors her coaching to each player's skill level, learning style, and goals, whether building strong fundamentals for newer players or refining strategy and shot selection for experienced athletes. She designs targeted drills to improve specific shots, patterns, and decision-making. Her coaching blends technical instruction with mental performance tools to build confidence, focus, and resilience. She was the Captain of Serbia's National Team, leading them to gold at the first European Pickleball Championship (2024), and as Captain and Player Selector for Serbia's first World Championship team (2025).
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Lynn Rau
Learn, Laugh, Love! Lynn was a D1 tennis player and coach who transitioned to playing and coaching pickleball. She has been playing pickleball for 15 years and has coached for 4 years, all ages. Lynn holds certifications including PPR Certified (2023), RSPA Certified (2019), PTR Certified (2007), and is Cardio Tennis and Pickleball Trained.
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Ready to Train with Our Team?
Contact us today to schedule your first session with one of our expert coaches.