When Julien Grigaux joined USTA Southern California, he brought a fresh perspective that reshaped how the section approaches equipment and event waste. Today, as Coordinator of Special Projects, he helps expand green initiatives across the region, integrating sustainability into daily operations through recycling and upcycling efforts that inspire players and staff to be more eco-conscious on and off the court.

Self-driven, adaptable, and inventive, Julien brings curiosity and genuine enthusiasm to everything from junior tournament sanctioning and court acquisition strategy to transforming waste into functional keepsakes. His work demonstrates how practical sustainability efforts can make a lasting difference in the Southern California tennis community.

Early Active Days on the SoCal Coast

Born in Westfield, New Jersey, Julien moved to Orange County at age two, spending his youth in the communities of Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo, and San Clemente. The youngest of three, he looked up to his sisters, Olivia and Sophie, whose academic and athletic achievements inspired him to excel. 

“I was lucky enough to grow up in a household with two very loving parents, as well as my two older sisters who have been my role models my entire life,” Julien shared. “They were always doing well in school, taking AP or accelerated classes, and being the best on their dance or sports teams, so I was always being pushed to be better.”

His sisters pursued distinctly different passions growing up. Olivia, the eldest, inherited an artistic spark from their grandmother and spent her weekends competing as a dancer, a pursuit Julien humorously recalls required sitting still and silent in auditoriums for hours on end. Meanwhile, Sophie shared Julien’s athletic drive through competitive soccer. With a French father, soccer was practically a religion in the household, and family vacations often revolved around major international tournaments like the Euro 2016 in France, the 2017 Women’s World Cup, and the 2018 Men’s World Cup in Russia.

Tennis also captured the family’s attention, particularly during the prime era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Though no one in the household played competitively, gathering to watch major tournaments like Roland Garros and the US Open became a favorite pastime. 

“I’m naturally a very competitive person, so I always respected that about tennis,” Julien reflected. “I was also drawn to how, similar to soccer, there’s a level of mystique or aura about tennis players. Tennis and soccer players both understand how difficult their sport is, and it isn’t a typical sport to become elite at in the United States compared to basketball, football, or baseball. Plus, to play tennis and soccer, you need to be an incredible athlete. Having tennis be the healthiest sport in the world subconsciously attracted me to it.”

Competition and Community

Julien’s childhood was defined by non-stop outdoor movement. A quintessential neighborhood kid, he spent his days skateboarding to the local soccer field, exploring nearby canyons, and organizing pickup games with friends. After years of Little League baseball and basketball, Julien focused on soccer by eighth grade, having played since age three.

At Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Julien balanced four years of soccer alongside club commitments and demanding AP coursework. As a junior, he helped lead the varsity team to a league championship and the program’s most successful postseason performance in over a decade, advancing to the third round of the CIF playoffs.

He also embraced the Southern California coastal lifestyle, riding the trolley with friends to surf, bodyboard, and photograph waves. Throughout high school and college, he continued seeking new pursuits, from rock climbing and beach volleyball to golf and snowboarding.

Parallel to athletics, Julien’s perspective and work ethic were shaped by community service and diverse jobs. From middle through high school, he supported special needs students in his mother’s summer classroom at Riley Elementary and spent four years in the Best Buddies program.

He also built customer service experience refereeing youth soccer, managing golf carts at Coto de Caza Golf & Country Club, aiding customers at Trader Joe’s, and serving guests at Montage Laguna Beach.

“Working at Trader Joe’s felt like a rite of passage growing up in California, and it was perfect because I could be myself and chat with everyday people,” Julien shared. “On the flip side, working at Coto de Caza and the Montage required catering to high-level clientele with specific, five-star expectations. Learning how to navigate both ends of that spectrum showed me that working directly with people is where I succeed most and have the most fun, and it really helped shape where I want to go in my career.”

College Endeavors in “The Big Easy”

Seeking an academic challenge outside California that offered a mid-sized campus within a vibrant city, Julien was drawn to Tulane University by its New Orleans setting, food, music, and culture. A recommendation from his mother and childhood memories of rooting for the New Orleans Saints with his best friend led him to explore the university. After watching campus tour videos and visiting in person, he fell in love with the city and enrolled through Early Decision.

At Tulane, Julien shifted from Psychology to the Freeman School of Business’ Management and Marketing program, later adding a Sports Management Certificate. He served two years as Secretary and four years on his fraternity’s Executive Committee for Zeta Psi, co-captaining the men’s club soccer team for two years, and participated in multiple intramural teams each semester.

His college years also brought valuable professional experience. As a sophomore, he joined Green Disco, a sustainability firm, researching festivals and testing outreach strategies to help live event directors adopt eco-friendly practices. While studying abroad in Madrid during his junior year, he conducted sponsorship data analytics for SponsorUnited across European soccer leagues. As a senior, he interned with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation’s Super Bowl LIX host committee, managing volunteer operations, and represented Tulane at the Sports Industry Networking and Conference (SINC) in Washington, D.C.

Turning Sustainability Into Action at USTA SoCal

Following his junior year at Tulane, Julien joined USTA Southern California as a Summer Associate in May 2024, drawn by the opportunity close to home and the organization’s welcoming culture.

“I got a great vibe right from the jump,” Julien recalled. “It seemed like a place where I could grow, learn, and be valued, which was really important to me.”

Julien entered the internship with minimal formal tennis knowledge, but supportive staff helped him learn while introducing him to the organization’s operations. During his very first event, however, his sustainability background sparked an idea that would shape his future with the organization.

“I’ll never forget the first tennis event I worked,” Julien recalled. “I noticed they were still using paper to run the tournament desk, tennis cans were thrown into landfills, and balls were just boxed up for warehouse storage. When I got home, I was surprised, but also excited. I told myself, ‘I’m going to make a plan before I leave to pitch USTA SoCal on ways we can become a more sustainable organization.’”

Drawing on his experience at Green Disco, Julien initiated a partnership with Rewilder to launch the ‘Banners to Bags’ initiative, upcycling retired court banners into custom player bags. Organizational leaders embraced the concept, laying the groundwork for a long-term future with the section.

After graduating in 2025, Julien embarked on a month-long backpacking journey through Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, and Singapore, inspired by his love for Anthony Bourdain’s travel shows. He returned home and rejoined USTA SoCal for a second Summer Associate stint. His continued impact and innovative drive led to his promotion to full-time Coordinator of Special Projects in September 2025.

Today, Julien balances tournament operations, junior L7 sanctioning, director collaborations, and help with budgeting and scheduling for the SoCal Pro Series, alongside managing the section’s expanding sustainability initiatives. 

Under his direction, the section’s green footprint has expanded dramatically. Beyond upcycling court banners into player bags, Julien designed a system to repurpose discarded metal tennis cans into custom Adult League Championship medals. He also created an interactive Ball Wall made from hundreds of recycled tennis balls that serves as a popular event photo backdrop, established dedicated collection points for ball and string recycling, and strengthened partnerships with Second Serve to donate used gear to Title I high schools across Los Angeles.

“Sustainability in sports isn’t going anywhere; it’s an area that will expand every year,” Julien explained. “Eliminating certain behaviors and swapping them for sustainable options brings about a great story and a unique way to connect with players. Done correctly, it can even create new revenue streams and reduce costs. When players see banners turned into bags, cans transformed into medals, or balls collected for local schools, they are participating directly in the story. It gives tennis a unique edge as we work toward growing the game to 35 million players by 2035.”

His proudest professional milestone came when he successfully authored and secured the Growth Catalyst Fund grant, with guidance and editing support from Maria Goldberg and Trevor Kronemann. The grant enabled USTA SoCal to join the Green Sports Alliance, connecting the section with major professional sports franchises and leagues to share best practices and pioneer new environmental standards.

“I never thought I would have the opportunity to partake in grant writing,” Julien stated. “Securing that funding allowed us to join the Green Sports Alliance, which is an incredible platform to learn from other major sports organizations while sharing our work in SoCal. It’s been an amazing experience that has made me much more educated and helped me grow professionally and as an individual.”

Admiration From Colleagues

Julien’s infectious energy and dedication have earned him strong praise from his colleagues across departments.

“Julien makes every event special when I work with him because of the energy he brings,” said Evan Sonny, Coordinator of Sportsmanship, Officiating, and Fair Play. “Even with the smallest tasks, Julien puts his best foot forward and goes all out every time. His passion for sustainability brings revolutionary ideas into the tennis world where eco-friendly efforts are much needed, and that drive invigorates everyone in our section.”

“Julien’s vision for sustainability in tennis is truly inspiring,” added Michael Scalera, Event Production Coordinator. “It is amazing to see the possibilities that exist when it comes to upcycling used tennis equipment, and Julien has made it all a reality. His efforts will continue to push the sport toward a more sustainable future.”

Life in Motion and What Lies Ahead

Outside work, Julien continues to enjoy an active lifestyle in Venice Beach, playing sports, dining with friends, walking his dog, and spending time with family.

“I love the ocean, so spending time in the water, exploring new reefs, cave diving with friends, and surfing always makes me feel connected to nature and serves as a great way to disconnect,” Julien shared. “Obviously, I love playing soccer. I currently play in two different leagues: an 11v11 league and a five-a-side futsal league. Really, doing anything social or active is how I spend my time.”

At home, Julien finds cooking to be a relaxing outlet, including a recent phase of baking baguettes and croissants from scratch for his family. He also enjoys watching movies from different eras and countries to learn about past trends and cultures, counting Easy Rider and Swingers among his favorites.

Another passion he picked up was learning to play guitar, inspired by a college road trip.

“I’ve always been fond of music, appreciate all genres, and consider myself decently knowledgeable in it,” Julien recalled. “On a road trip dropping my friend off at college, I tried playing his guitar and was immediately hooked. When I got back to New Orleans, I bought a guitar right away and started watching videos to teach myself. I felt bad for my roommates at first, but I feel like I’ve gotten significantly better from where I started. I love playing Jack Johnson, The Growlers, Led Zeppelin, and Sublime. For me, playing guitar is incredibly calming, has broadened my knowledge of music, and taught me a whole new skill that at times felt like learning a new language.”

Looking ahead, Julien aims to build on USTA SoCal’s marketing partnerships and green initiatives while harboring a long-term goal of gaining professional sports experience abroad.

“Professionally and personally, one of my goals is to work in Europe,” Julien explained. “I grew up in a French household and visited Europe often, so I’m very fond of the way of life in Spain, France, and Italy. I would love to gain work experience in another country. I understand that it would be a big change and almost a reset, but I am always open to learning new things, and I know it would allow me to grow both personally and professionally.”

When asked what advice he would share with students aspiring to break into sports management, Julien centers his message on taking initiative and staying flexible.

“I would tell students to take full advantage of the athletics programs their school has to offer,” Julien advised. “First off, network with alumni and learn from their career paths, because you never know where those connections will lead. Most importantly, universities want to see their students succeed, so getting a job with your school’s athletic department is much easier than applying to a company where you have no connections. Take any job that is offered to you, even if you don’t think you’ll like it. Figuring out what you don’t want to do is just as important as finding your dream job.”

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Learn more about USTA Southern California’s sustainability initiatives and efforts.