Beyond the Baseline: Anthony Shirley

Family, community, and connection have always been central to Anthony Shirley’s life, continuing to guide him today as he leads USTA Southern California’s Adult Tournament landscape as the Manager of Adult Competitive Tennis. Quietly confident yet fiercely driven, Anthony’s calm demeanor often allows him to fly under the radar, but behind the scenes he’s consistently raising the bar. Under his leadership, adult tournament participation has reached new heights, and his events are widely recognized for their organization, professionalism, and player experience.

Witty, hardworking, and endlessly dependable, Anthony thrives in any environment, whether he’s guiding a team, managing complex events, or mentoring the next generation. He’s a natural collaborator and an efficient planner, always open to feedback, eager to grow, and deeply committed to advancing the game of tennis across Southern California.

Rooted in Community

Born and raised in San Diego, Anthony has lived in Southern California his entire life, and still proudly calls it home to this day. The youngest of seven children, Anthony grew up in a household that was not only full of people but overflowing with love, laughter, and community spirit. The Shirley residence was more than just a family home, as it became a central gathering place for friends, neighbors, and extended family alike. With so many people in his corner, Anthony was constantly learning while also being encouraged and inspired by the successes and wisdom of his older siblings and those in his extended circle.

“I grew up in a busy household that included six older siblings, two parents, and just about every other kid in the neighborhood,” Anthony said. “Because of how many of us there were, how accommodating my parents were, and my mom’s world class cooking, we were always ‘the place to be’ for all of our friends growing up. Never short on things to do or people to be around lent itself to stimulation, competitiveness, and emulation. The real challenge was finding alone time.” 

Having so many children under one roof, Anthony’s parents were always looking for ways to keep everyone active, and sports quickly became a go-to outlet.With two older sisters who went on to play Division I basketball at UCLA, Anthony was inspired to follow in their footsteps, picking up the sport at a young age while also playing football. For a long period of time, tennis was Anthony’s third sport of choice, and did not hold prominence until he grew older. Anthony was first introduced to tennis by his mother, a longtime advocate of the sport who had played in high school and remained an avid fan. As they bonded over watching matches together, his passion for tennis grew, ironically surpassing that of his siblings, who had been encouraged to play but never fully embraced it.

“My mother would watch matches and I would occasionally sit with her. I remember her telling me about Pete Sampras’ retirement, introducing me to her favorite player, Andre Agassi, and then telling me about the player who would become my favorite, Andy Roddick,” Anthony recalled. “I gradually became a fan. As far as playing, the funny thing is all of my siblings were somewhat forced into tennis classes at a young age and none of them stuck with it. It wasn’t even a thing pitched to me. I stumbled into it a little later in life, but then I was the one who stuck with it.” 

First beginning to take lessons the summer before he started high school, Anthony would join an NJTL team as he started to take the game more seriously. Though he picked up the sport later than many of his competitive peers, his natural talent and quick grasp of the game’s nuances made him stand out. His potential was evident not only to those around him but also to local coaches, one of whom invited him to compete for a nearby high school in the coming season. It was at this point that Anthony’s competitive spirit truly took hold.

Entering his freshman year, Anthony enrolled at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. With no tennis team available to him there, Anthony had the option of which school he wanted to play for, ultimately choosing Morse High School where he would make the varsity team in ninth grade. Surrounded by top-tier talent, including nationally ranked players Ben Roy, Michael Armstead, and Olumide Sherman-Norman, Anthony found the experience both inspiring and motivating. Throughout all four years at Morse, Anthony’s growth on the court was undeniable. He was named Most Improved Player and later Co-MVP in different seasons, and by just his sophomore year, he was selected as team captain. 

University Life

Looking to continue playing tennis following his graduation, Anthony enrolled at Grossmont Junior College in the Fall of 2009, where he would then go on to play for the Griffins for the next two years. While in school, Anthony began coaching to help pay for his tuition, first starting by working at the Barnes Tennis Center in 2011. Juggling academics, athletics, and work wasn’t easy, but Anthony persevered, earning his associate’s degree and setting the stage for the next step in his academic journey. Though having received a few offers to play tennis at Division II and Division III schools, Anthony turned down the offers and instead chose to transfer to and attend UC Irvine, where he would begin taking classes in the Spring of 2012.

Deciding to not play competitively for the time being, Anthony shifted his focus solely to his studies and work, deciding to major in Political Science while still continuing to commute to coach at Barnes and picking up extra jobs when possible to aid with tuition. Nearing the completion of his degree in 2014, Anthony decided to take an academic leave in the pursuit of other projects. He would return in the Spring of 2017, finishing his degree and walking in his commencement. Anthony’s combined experience as a player, coach, and student laid the foundation for his post-college success, ultimately leading him to discover his true calling in the tennis industry, both on the court and behind the scenes in administration.

“By the time I graduated from UC Irvine, I was still coaching tennis, but had gotten into program management such as Junior Team Tennis,” Anthony added. “I managed as many as nine different teams in one season, while also coaching a couple of teams to Sectional Championships. Along the way, I had opportunities to direct tournaments. So even though coaching was the constant, I’d begun dipping into other career paths with tennis by the time I graduated.”

From that point until the summer of 2021, Anthony wore many hats at Barnes, but none would prove more pivotal than his experience directing tournaments. That role ultimately laid the foundation for his transition into the next chapter of his career with USTA Southern California.

“I started getting more into administration because I knew I didn’t want to be a full-time teaching pro forever, so I started tournament directing,” Anthony added. “It began with me assisting previous tournament directors with big events like the Jim Buck Team Tournament and the Harper Ink Memorial Junior Championships, in addition to some Novice events. The big one came when San Diego State University and the University of San Diego approached me to run the ITA Southwest Regional, which is their prestigious tournament to qualify for Nationals. When COVID-19 ultimately hit and things turned over at the facility, I was brought back on as Associate Pro, JTT Manager, and the new Tournament Director.” 

A New Chapter with USTA Southern California

During his time at Barnes, Anthony became well-acquainted with the USTA SoCal team, and it didn’t take long for his work ethic and professionalism to get noticed. After some recruitment from the then-Adult Competition Director, along with now-Senior Director of Competition Maria Goldberg, Anthony officially joined the USTA Southern California staff full-time in September 2021, and he’s been a cornerstone of the team ever since.

In his current role as Manager of Adult Competitive Tennis, Anthony oversees and regulates sanctioned USTA adult competition across the section. His portfolio includes everything from ITF professional events and ITA collegiate tournaments to NTRP, age-division, and Open-level play. On any given day, he’s coordinating with tournament directors, facilities, officials, players, universities, providers, and sponsors, all to ensure high-quality events for Southern California’s adult tennis community.

“When people ask what my job entails, I like to tell them ‘ABL,’ which stands for ‘Anything but Leagues.’ I oversee professional tennis, collegiate tennis, age-division, NTRP, and Open tournaments. On a basic level, my goal is to ensure that providers feel empowered and equipped to run quality events throughout the section, and in turn, help ensure that players enjoy their experiences competing in Southern California,” Anthony mentioned. “So this work includes implementing and enforcing standards, rules and regulations, and best practices across the section. It means building relationships with as well as educating and assisting providers and players alike. While there are some administrative tasks that are the same from week to week, the scope of my work means that no two days in a row really look the same.”

One of Anthony’s proudest achievements in his current role has been launching the  SoCal NTRP Tour, a competitive series of tournaments that awards wild cards to qualifying players for NTRP Nationals. The impact of the event has been significant, as over the past year, NTRP Tour events saw a 40% increase in player participation, with overall NTRP tournament numbers reaching their highest levels since before the pandemic. Year-over-year, participation has grown nearly 10%, with total registrations also surpassing pre-COVID benchmarks.

“I’ve always loved the concept of advancement in tennis, like the ‘tournament within the tournament’ sort of thing. It was nice to implement that in our section and give players something to play for on a larger scale,” Anthony said. “There’s a lot that can be better about it, but it’s been a success so far.” 

In addition to the NTRP Tour, Anthony also helped launch the inaugural SoCal Open Tour, now entering its second year. Designed to help elite-level players transition to the professional circuit, the series offers wild cards into the SoCal Pro Series. Held across the section with stops in San Diego, La Jolla, Anaheim, Lakewood, and Calabasas, the Open Tour is geared toward prospective, current, and former collegiate athletes aiming to elevate their game.

More Than Tennis

At just 34 years old, Anthony has already built a career in the tennis industry that many would consider a lifetime achievement. Earlier this year, he added another chapter to his journey by taking on a coaching role at Mo Training Tennis Academy, where he serves as a USPTA-certified tennis instructor. His coaching philosophy centers around skill development, strategic growth, and creating a fun, supportive environment for players of all ages and levels. Despite juggling a full schedule between coaching and his work with USTA Southern California, Anthony makes it a priority to carve out time for himself, his family, and his many passions outside of tennis. 

“I go with the wind,” Anthony shared. “I read. I work out. I do yoga. I go out. I play NBA2K. I used to do a lot of pick-up basketball, but it’s not as nice on my body anymore. I’m also a big fan of National Dog competitions, and I can talk about them for days.” 

Looking back on his successes, yet eager to continue building toward the future, Anthony constantly reflects on his work, learning from past experiences to create the best possible product for his players and the SoCal tennis community. He values the moments when everything comes together and makes a point to recognize the effect his efforts have.

“I like the payoff moments when a vision, a program, or an event all comes together and you can see its impact. In general, I would like to know what I do matters. I hope to see that I’ve made an impact in some small way by the time my journey has wrapped up.”