Former University of Indianapolis men's tennis standout John Venter is the Greyhounds' men's tennis coach.
In two seasons, Coach Venter has lead the men's tennis team back to the NCAA national tournament. Every team has been named ITA Academic All Americans! His men's collegiate coaching record stands at 19-26 overall and 9-8 in conference as of May, 2009.
Venter has coached two all conference players. Venter has served on the regional and national ranking committees and is chair of the regional tennis awards committee and the GLVC Women's Tennis Coaches Association. He also serves as the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee representative for women's tennis. Venter has been a guest speaker at several area events hosted by the USTA, ICGSA, and ISTeCA.
Prior to coming to UIndy, Venter served nine seasons as the boy's and girl's tennis coach at Whiteland High School. He was named the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association Tennis Coach of the Year in 1997. The Whiteland native also was selected as the Greyhound Club At-Large Coach of the Year in 1997.
Venter graduated magna cum laude from the University of Indianapolis in 1993 with a 3.7 cumulative grade point average. Venter was voted the Outstanding Math/Physics Student at UIndy in both 1992 and 1993. He was a member of the Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society and was recognized on the National Dean's List in 1991 and 1992 as well as Who's Who Among America's College Students in 1992.
Venter was the Parker P. Jordan top male student-athlete at the University of Indianapolis in 1991. He earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete status in 1993.
As a player, Venter led the University of Indianapolis to three consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in 1991, 1992, and 1993. He earned three individual GLVC titles in addition to the team's three triumphs. Venter was a two-time Academic All-GLVC selection and team captain who received the team's Kelso Reid Mental Attitude Award in 1992.
Venter also serves as the Director of Tennis for the UIndy Tennis Center. Venter and his wife, Jill, have three children Sam (age 12), Sophie (age 7), and Savannah (age 5).
