In the flourishing landscape of the Southern California tennis scene, there are thousands of individuals working daily to better the lives of those who share a passion for the sport. For the past 14 years, one standout individual has gone above and beyond, helping develop the next generation of tennis superstars to hail from the section.

As a mentor, coach and now tournament director, Nico Riego de Dios has impacted lives of all walks of life, and in doing so, has earned this month’s honors of USTA Southern California’s Tournament Director of the Month.

Born and raised in Olongapo City, Philippines, Nico’s love of tennis sprouted at a young age. Inspired by his parents and older brother who played at the time, Nico first picked up a racquet at the age of five.

“It is definitely my entire family who influenced me to love the sport,” Nico shared. “I remember when I was five years old, my dad would toss me balls after he played with his friends. My father started teaching my older brother first, and I ended up demanding him to also teach me. Since then, I haven’t stopped playing tennis. The tennis court is definitely our family’s second home.”

With experienced players all around him, Nico’s admiration for the game developed quickly, as did his prowess on court. His time playing junior events as a child transitioned into playing for the team at Olongapo City National High School, where he would find much success. Nico’s dominance on court throughout his youth led to his dreams of playing collegiate tennis to be recognized, as Eastern Washington University came calling. The Division-1 school provided Nico an offer that was too good to pass up, giving him the ability to play tennis and pursue his degree all while being on scholarship. Committing to play for the Eagles, Nico left behind his life in the Philippines and headed to the United States. Nico attended EWU from 2006 to 2010, spending all four years on the Men’s tennis team and graduating with a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In Washington, Nico played both singles and doubles primarily from the No. 1 position, reaching as high as #43 in the nation in singles and #64 in doubles.

Upon his graduation, Nico found a passion that intertwined both his love of tennis and exercise science, that being coaching. Transitioning from playing into teaching, Nico packed up his things once again and headed to the Golden State, where an opportunity arose in Southern California. Beginning his career, Nico spent his first five years as the Director of Tennis and Head Tennis Professional at the Westlake Village Inn Tennis Club. In this role, Nico was in charge of a variety of tasks including managing tennis professionals, scheduling classes, running tournaments and conducting an after school program for juniors. Following this stint, Nico spent time up until 2018 at at the LAT Tennis Academy. Working closely with juniors in the area, Nico helped develop some of the top high school talent in the state while helping prepare players for their time in college and beyond.

It was through these positions that Nico’s passion for coaching and youth development grew, leading him to work at the IN Tennis Academy and founding the RDD Elite Tennis Academy, in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Within these organizations, Nico has implemented a focus on building competitive players at both the ITF and collegiate levels, all while sharing his knowledge of the sport. Simultaneously operating two businesses, Nico was eager to accomplish even more, enrolling at the University of Southern California in 2019 to pursue his Master’s Degree in Health Administration. Graduating in 2021, Nico continued building upon his career in the industry, applying what he learned from school into his teachings on court.

In his latest adventure, Nico began directing tournaments in Lakewood just over a year ago, where he already has made a profound impact. Providing opportunities for kids to play tennis and hone their skills in his tournaments, the position has been a joy for Nico, whose most enjoyable aspects of the job revolve around working with the local youth talent.

“Being a tournament director is really a privilege for me as I can help the kids navigate on their levels in their game and also witness their growth throughout the sport,” Nico mentioned. “ I really enjoy seeing the kids evolve and fall in love in  the game. I love how they compete at a young age. Most of my tournaments are Grand Prix so I really take it seriously on educating the players on the rules and specially on how to preserve sportsmanship while competing to the highest level.”

His dedication to making enjoyable events for both the players and parents, while emphasizing sportsmanship through his teachings has made for an environment where kids can be competitive, but also have fun and learn on court.

“I am really into promoting the value of sportsmanship as I believe that the kids need to win like a champion and lose like a champion. I always tell the players that playing tournaments are a celebration of knowledge and not just about winning,” Nico added. “I believe it is vital to create an environment for the kids and parents to compete at the highest level while maintaining the value of sportsmanship by educating them about the rules and regulations of the game.”

With now more than three decades of experience combined between playing and coaching tennis, Nico has been able to impart his wisdom on two of the most important juniors in his life, his sons. Working primarily with his eldest son, Nico has been able to share his passion for the sport he loves so much, just like his father did with him.

“I am very passionate about teaching my students on and off the court. When my eldest son who is now 8 years old decided to pick up the sport and wanted to play competitively, I was nervous at first because I didn’t want to ruin our relationship,” stated Nico. “To my surprise, it’s been great between the two of us and sharing my experiences both on and off the court has really brought us closer together. He really respects me as his coach, and also sees that I develop top juniors from Southern California. With my tennis academy being my main job, I have the privilege of making him hit with older kids to whom he has learned so much.”

Encouraging aspiring tournament directors, Nico emphasizes the significance of finding joy in the role, alongside prioritizing the satisfaction of players and parents.

“Being a tournament director is a very fulfilling job,” said Nico. “It is definitely a great avenue to host events so that the kids have time to compete and meet new friends, especially in Grand Prix tournaments. I have found that it is vital to create a welcoming environment for both the kids and parents, where the children can compete at the highest level while maintaining sportsmanlike values. I am grateful for the opportunity to host tournaments and do not take it for granted.”