Ryan Fitzwilliam
Fitzwilliam, a native of Durban, South Africa, joined the Liberty tennis programs in January 2012, bringing international playing experience and knowledge of coaching and outreach programming positions.
During the spring 2012 season, Fitzwilliam assisted Chris Johnson with the operations, instruction and on-court coaching during matches for both the men's and women's tennis programs.
Liberty's men posted its fourth consecutive season with double digit victories, going 15-8 to mark the program's second best single-season wins total. At the end of the year, No. 1 singles and doubles player Siim Tuus was honored with Big South all-conference honors in both formats of play, while also earning a No. 16 ranking in the ITA's Atlantic Region.
Fitzwilliam played a major role in assisting the women's team, which closed the season by winning 10 of its final 13 contests.
In the past, Fitzwilliam served as the Director of Tennis at Boca Raton Christian School in Boca Raton, Fla. He coached both the boys' and girls' varsity teams from 2005-11. In 2011, the girls' team posted an undefeated 11-0 record in the regular season to set a school record.
Fitzwilliams' coaching career began at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he served as an assistant coach for both men's and women's teams from 1996-97. His primary duties included recruiting, organizing practices and on-court coaching and instruction.
As a player, Fitzwilliam has experienced success around the world. In his native country of South Africa, he ascended to the No. 1 high school singles and doubles player in the nation and captained the national team. He then played collegiate tennis at the University of South Florida from 1991-93, including capturing a conference singles title in 1991. Lastly, he played two years of professional club tennis in Germany.
Fitzwilliam began using tennis as an outreach in 2002, when he founded Match Point Ministries Inc., a non-profit Christian tennis ministry based in South Florida. With the goal of reaching junior, adult and professional tours for Jesus Christ, Fitzwilliam has attended many tournaments, setting up outreach booths, housing, bible studies and fellowship for players coaches and their families.
His outreach work led to his role as the Outreach Director at Glades Presbyterian Church in Boca Raton from 2005-2011. In this position, Fitzwilliam preached, organized outreach events and led discipleship courses.
