Lessons From the Officiating Chair with Teri Cohn

One of the most overlooked yet critical roles in tennis are officials. They ensure fairness, uphold sportsmanship, and safeguard the integrity of the sport in their hands. This November in honor of USTA Officiating Appreciation Week, we recognize the men and women who serve as the guiding principle to respect and reputability on court. Among these unsung heroes is Teri Cohn, a well-respected veteran, mentor, and Chair of the USTA Southern California Officials Committee.

For two decades, Teri has been a fixture on the courts across the country, officiating matches from the junior level and NCAA circuit to the ATP and WTA professional tours and Special Olympics world stage. Her journey into officiating wasn’t a straight line, but rather the story of taking a chance and never regretting it.

Early Playing Days

Teri’s connection to tennis goes back to her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, when the sport was booming across the country. “I grew up in the 70s and it was the sport where everybody played and the courts were very accessible, both public courts and a couple of our neighbors had backyard courts,” she recalls.

She remembers being part of the first-ever girls’ tennis team at her high school—a pioneering experience that gave her a taste of friendship and camaraderie. While she didn’t pursue tennis in college and stepped away from the game for nearly two decades, the sport found its way back into her life years later.

After relocating to Atlanta for her husband’s career, Teri noticed that tennis was everywhere. “Everybody played tennis in Atlanta and [that’s where] I reconnected with the game and played. I had gotten my kids involved in it with lessons and they played the usual sports too. They were on soccer teams and basketball and tennis and just, you know—we’re an athletic family. So I’ve been involved with tennis my whole life in one aspect or another,” she says.

An Unexpected Introduction to Officiating

Eventually, her husband’s job brought the family west, and in 2003, they settled in Upland, California. Looking for a way to stay engaged in the sport while raising her two sons, she joined the Claremont Club, where she played five days a week or more. It was there that she accidentally found herself introduced to the officiating world.

“The Claremont Club hosts a men’s pro circuit event, and one of my friends volunteered to assist with the tournament so she invited me to come along. Well, she and her grown daughter had been talking to some of the umpires about becoming an umpire, so I came to help my friends at the desk. One of the umpires came up [to them] and said, ‘hey, we’re putting on a class next month. Do you and your daughter still want to come?’ She said, ‘Absolutely.’ Then he looked at me—it was Jim Flood, who just recently retired from a very long and distinguished officiating career—and said, ‘well, what about you? Do you want to come?’ I said, ‘Sure. I’m not doing anything that day. Why not?’ I really had no idea what I was getting into. Twenty years later, I still refer to myself as the accidental official,” she says, laughing.

Building Her Career

There’s a saying that “accidents are meant to happen”—one that certainly rings true for Teri. Since her officiating journey began, she’s traveled all over the world, working countless matches from the local level to the international stage. One memory that stands out was officiating the Billie Jean King Cup between the United States and Ukraine in 2022, just months after the outbreak of war. “That was such a powerful moment. Not only were the athletes representing their countries, but the U.S.-based officiating team also felt like we were representing our country,” she says.

Teri has also dedicated years of her career to Special Olympics tennis, including Los Angeles in 2015, Abu Dhabi in 2019, and Berlin in 2023. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work three World Games and that’s always a very powerful experience. It’s really opened up a lot of adventure for me.”

Her colleague, Ken Grassel, Officiating Growth Manager for USTA SoCal, points to this as one of her most admirable qualities. “Teri’s commitment to the Special Olympics is remarkable. She got me reengaged with the Special Olympics about three years ago and it’s a wonderful experience.”

Whether it’s a professional match, college exhibition, or junior tournament, one thing’s for sure—Teri cherishes the opportunity to witness the passion each player brings no matter their age or skill level. “I’ve officiated so many great professional matches and exciting NCAA matches. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the deciding match for an NCAA Division III National Championship several years ago and just to see everybody celebrating is really cool. And then, you know, just the little things too, like the 10 or 11 year old playing in their first tournament and the way they walk out onto court…they’re just so excited to be out there for the love of the game.”

Even after 20 years, Teri still gets excited every time she receives an invitation to work a tournament. “Every tournament is a fresh opportunity. No matter how many times I go to a tournament, I’m still excited when I get my invitation to come. I never take anything for granted,” she says.

Her unwavering professionalism throughout her career is something Ken applauds. “What I like about Teri’s work ethic is that she is always reliable and dependable, and when she says she will take care of something, she always does. She is always prepared and ready to go!”

A Diverse Profession

When asked what keeps her coming back all these years, she doesn’t hesitate to say the people. “I just love meeting people,” she exclaims. “The officiating community has really become an extended family for me. My friends are from literally all over the world. It’s just really special.”

It’s true that tennis officiating is one of the few professions that brings together individuals from vastly different backgrounds—be it age, education, ethnicity, or geographic location. “There are some people who this is their full-time source of income. There are people who have retired from their first career and this is a second career for them,” Teri explains. “It really is just a very diverse and dynamic group of people from literally all walks of life. We have officials in their teens and well into their 60s and 70s. They could be executives, physicians, lawyers, blue collar workers, students, professors, teachers—everything you can think of.”

Growth Through Officiating

Working with a diverse group of people and officiating many different matches means no two days are the same. For Teri, the constant change and adaptation has been a pathway for growth, patience, and empathy. “When you’re out there, it’s not always black and white. We operate in the gray sometimes. You have to make sure that you’re getting all of the facts right…and be patient, ask the right questions, and really listen to what the player is trying to tell you as opposed to just rushing to an answer, which I think sometimes we’re all too quick to do. Officiating has helped me be more patient, increased my listening skills, and opened my eyes a little bit more,” she reflects.

The ability to remain thoughtful under pressure is something she now passes on to new officials. Her advice for those just starting out is to “work hard, persevere, and be open to feedback. Every event is an opportunity to sharpen your skills and put in the work. And that’s what it all comes down to, you need to put in the work.”

Her dedication is something that many, including Ken, admire. “What sets Teri apart is her commitment to anything she takes on. You know that whatever she is coordinating is in very good hands. Teri wears all of her many hats well—whether it’s the US Open, NCAA Division I Championships, or serving as Tournament Referee for Junior Sectionals and the Henry Talbert Junior Championships.”

Supporting and Developing Officials

As Chair of the USTA SoCal Officials Committee, Teri cherishes the opportunity to share the lessons she’s learned from the chair and continue growing tennis officiating. She and six other members meet every six to eight weeks to discuss ways to continue supporting officials across Southern California. “We’re really there to see how we can best support our officials in our section through training, education, and development,” she says.

Upholding Sportsmanship

For Southern California tennis, having leaders like Teri Cohn ensures that officiating remains inclusive and respected. This Officiating Appreciation Week, we celebrate not just her distinguished career, but how she continues to lead by example for players, colleagues, and the broader tennis community.

Because ultimately, as Cohn herself puts it, this sport is “about doing the right thing, respecting your opponent, and respecting the game. As officials, we play a role in upholding that standard, and that’s something I take seriously. We all want the same thing. We want to ensure fair play.”