Paul Goode
Paul Goode enters his third season as head tennis coach for both men and women at Lees-McRae College. The Boone, North Carolina native spent his first two years focused on recruiting the type of talent that will lead the Bobcats to the top of the Carolinas Virginia Athletic Conference. Under Goode’s leadership the team improved their record from 5-11 his first year to 15-10 in his second season.“ This team is committed to becoming the top team in our conference and competing on the national level. We try to get a little better every day,” according to Goode. “This is collectively one of the hardest working teams I have been around, and I look forward to the coming season to see what they are capable of.”
Goode, the 2007 North Carolina Men’s Open State Champion, has amassed a list of playing achievements that includes a second place finish in the 2005 National Clay Court Championships in the Open division. Goode was recently named the 2007 Men’s Player of the Year. “I still enjoy playing and I play tournaments whenever my schedule allows. I love the aspect of one-on-one competition that tennis offers.” Goode has proven to be a skilled instructor helping many local players become strong players competing on the national level. For him the most gratifying thing about coaching is helping players reach their potential whatever level of play that might be. “I am always trying to convince my players that they can be great because I sincerely believe that in this game the best players are the ones who never think they have reached their potential. The most successful players are the ones who are always looking for ways to improve. My main goal is to help my players develop habits that will make them successful in life once they leave Lees-McRae.”
Goode played for four years at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he graduated in 2002. He started his college career playing the fifth and sixth positions as a freshman and he moved up the line-up each year. He played the one and two positions as a senior. After college Goode played professionally on the futures tour. “Playing against and practicing with the guys on the tour made me develop a new understanding of the game. For the guys on the tour it’s all about constantly improving and finding ways to win, and that is the mentality I try to teach all of my players.”
Goode is married to Dana Arrowood-Goode and they are expecting their first child in April.