Nearing her fourth year with the Southern California section, and seventh all together working for USTA, India Hoffman has firmly established herself as a pillar of excellence in Adult League Tennis, helping make USTA Southern California one of the nation’s top destinations for league play. Known for her deep commitment to the growth of the sport, India’s role as Adult League Manager is integral to the success of the many leagues and tournaments that take place year round across the section.

India is widely recognized by her peers and colleagues for her organization, efficiency, kindness, and creativity. Her passion for tennis is not only infectious but evident in everything she does. Her journey to this point is a testament to her dedication to the sport, her leadership in organizational roles, and her unwavering desire to create meaningful and memorable experiences for players.

EARLY LIFE

A native of the Central Coast, India grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, where she spent the first half of her life with her parents and younger sister. Growing up in an active family that encouraged both India and her sister to try various sports, the Hoffmans spent much of their time outdoors, whether hiking, biking, playing sports, or exploring the scenic California coast. This environment fostered a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, which remains a cornerstone of India’s life today. 

Although active outdoors, tennis wasn’t India’s first passion. It wasn’t until high school that she picked up the sport, joining the San Luis Obispo High School tennis team shortly after starting out. With her entire family also embracing tennis, they frequently played together at a nearby park, helping India develop her skills and deepen her knowledge of the game. As she grew older, India remained committed to tennis, eventually making the varsity team and spending all four years of high school playing for the Tigers.

“Beginning to play tennis with my family, it was fun to measure my skills against them, starting off much worse to eventually being competitive with them when I was a teenager,” India stated. “Nowadays, my dad and I always make time to hit when I visit. Aside from my family, I also had two great coaches- my high school coach and another coach I took clinics from- that helped craft my love of the sport. They both emphasized fun and most drills felt more like games.”

Though focusing on tennis, India remained extremely well-rounded throughout her youth, carving out time for multiple other sports and extracurriculars.

“I played a bunch of sports growing up, including softball, soccer, and volleyball,” added India. “I also played the violin and was active in the youth symphony. I stopped playing violin to focus on school and tennis, but after I graduated college I started playing again. Now I spend about equal amounts of time on tennis and violin.”

COLLEGE YEARS

After high school, India moved a few hours north to attend UC Santa Cruz (UCSC). As a Banana Slug, she pursued a degree in Global Economics while remaining heavily involved on campus, continuing to nurture her passions and discover new ones. Despite a demanding academic schedule, she participated in clubs such as the French Film Club and even studied abroad in Paris, where she had the chance to attend Roland Garros. Possibly most important in shaping her career today, she dedicated significant time working within the intramural sports department at UCSC.

“I started off as a referee of various sports then eventually ran the department and oversaw all of the sports offered to students and staff, including innertube water polo, flag football, dodgeball, soccer, basketball, and more,” mentioned India. “It was the perfect job for me as I could be outside – most of UCSC’s sports took place on a giant field situated between redwoods and overlooking Monterey Bay – and I could create fun experiences for my peers. This opportunity ignited my passion for organizing the logistics of recreation and sports.”

India’s love for tennis never wavered once she stepped foot on campus, and she continued to play during college with the Tennis On Campus (TOC) program, which allowed her to seamlessly transition from high school tennis. She became captain of her team during her senior year and met her fiancé, Sage, while playing on the team.

TURNING PASSION INTO CAREER

Following the culmination of her time at UCSC in 2016, India made the transition from club tennis into Adult Leagues, joining USTA Northern California and playing in local leagues. At the same time, she began her first full-time job in the NorCal section’s Community Tennis Department. 

“I had been in contact with a few people at USTA NorCal while captaining my TOC team, who were helpful and supportive of our program,” shared India. “They let me know about an opportunity that opened up in the Community Department and I was hired right around graduation. I worked to get tennis into P.E. curriculums, after school programs, parks and rec departments, and worked at a handful of pro tennis events in the Bay Area.”

While India cherished the three years she would ultimately spend with the organization, she began to feel a strong pull to return home. Ultimately, she made the decision to leave the position, but not before doing something bold. Following her departure in 2019, India lived in a camper van and traveled around the country visiting friends, family, and exploring new places. The longest trip lasted over five months, though she kept the van for several years, using it to take many more trips up and down the west coast.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, India returned to San Luis Obispo and shifted career paths to banking, hoping to pursue her interest in finance and economics. Though she continued to play tennis on the weekends, she quickly realized how much she missed working in the sport and the community that came with it.

“I was wrong about assuming I wouldn’t miss tennis. Banking was not fulfilling for me and I missed working in sports and recreation. My assumptions were backwards. I wanted to make a career out of sports and could pursue finance and investing as a personal hobby, not the other way around.”

With this realization, India transitioned back into the tennis world in early 2021 when an opportunity arose with USTA SoCal in the Adult Tennis Department. 

WORKING FOR USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Since joining the team in 2021 as an Adult Tennis Coordinator to now as the Adult League Manager, India has played a pivotal role in overseeing the logistics of Adult League Tennis across the section. From handling the day-to-day operations of Adult League programs to planning large-scale tournaments and Sectionals, India’s role is both multifaceted and essential to the success of USTA SoCal’s mission.

If you’ve competed in any of the region’s Adult Sectional events in recent years or captained an Adult League team, chances are you’ve interacted with India, either in person or online. Her name is synonymous with Adult League play in Southern California, with her work admired across other sections as a model for success. India embodies hard work, innovation, and determination.

Her daily responsibilities cover a wide range of tasks, including managing a team of fourteen Area League Coordinators, who oversee the scheduling and organization of local leagues within SoCal. India also handles NTRP ratings, sportsmanship, and sectional championships. Her influence extends far beyond the administrative aspects of the job. She is deeply committed to the player experience, constantly working to create a fair, competitive, and welcoming atmosphere for all players. Beyond that, she is always an incredible presence, particularly when it comes to working and collaborating with. 

“It is great working with India and to learn from her,” shared Susan Daymude, USTA SoCal’s Adult Tennis Coordinator. “She is always patient and encouraging. She strives to make everything excellent for our players. I’ve learned to appreciate her more as I started assisting with some of the Sectionals planning. There are so many pieces to it, and there are things beyond your control such as the weather, however, you would never know she is stressed. She is always cool and composed, and she always gives you that feeling that everything will be alright!” 

Whether it’s organizing tournament schedules, working with facilities to secure court time, or coordinating with officials and vendors, India ensures that every detail is accounted for to make each event as successful as possible, while continuing to grow the game. Her role also involves working closely with vendors for tournament merchandise and player gifts, as well as managing staff who assist in the execution of tournaments. 

“My goal is to continue to grow League Tennis in SoCal and create fun and fair experiences for players of all levels,” India commented. “I love working with our passionate players and captains in SoCal. We have a great staff that is dedicated to growing tennis for everyone in SoCal.”

Her hard work has yielded impressive results, as for the first time in USTA SoCal’s history, Adult Leagues surpassed 60,000 registrations in 2024, marking a 10% increase over the previous record set in 2023. These milestones have propelled SoCal into the top five of all 17 USTA sections nationwide for League participation. A major factor behind this growth is the continued success in Orange County and San Diego, regions that consistently rank among the top five nationally for local league growth.

“League registration is heading into a third straight year of record highs,” said India. “I am proud of our team for balancing growing Leagues with limited court space and trying to find a spot on a team for anyone who is interested in joining our program.”

BEYOND WORK

Currently 30-years-old, India has recently moved once more to sunny San Diego, a hub for tennis. When she is not working, she enjoys spending her free time either playing tennis, mountain biking, or playing the violin. Continuing to nurture her love for adventure and the outdoors, she recently purchased another sprinter van, where she has found joys traveling throughout Southern California whenever possible. 

“I have wanderlust, if you couldn’t already tell!” she exclaimed.

As she looks ahead, India is determined to continue improving the League experience for all participants and is excited about the future of tennis in Southern California. With her deep passion for the sport, leadership skills, and commitment to player-driven growth, there’s no doubt that she will continue to be a driving force behind the success of Adult League Tennis for years to come. For those new to the game or considering joining an Adult League, India’s advice is simple, but important. 

“I would tell someone to focus on having fun rather than focus on winning or losing or their rating. The best teams are the ones with good camaraderie.”