By Bill Simons
Following a long and extensive search, the Southern California Tennis Association has chosen industry and tennis veteran Bruce Hunt to become the new executive director. Hunt was formerly an executive director of the USTA Northern California, where he endured one of the most contentious climates ever seen in any of the USTA regions. Time and again, factions would go after each other tooth-and-nail. All the while, Hunt navigated, generally drawing strong support until his resignation in 2006. At the time, Intermountain executive director Terry Walters said, “Hunt was a leader within the USTA and will be greatly missed,” while Henry Talbert described Hunt as “a good man … one of the strongest, most intellectually gifted of our ED ranks.” Hunt, who served from 2001 through 2006, noted that there were six NorCal presidents in that time, and during his tenure his staff grew from 28 to 38. There were also gains in USTA membership, league participation, Nor Cal’s budget and reserve funds, and programming.
A graduate of Eastern Illinois University and UNLV, Hunt emerged on top after a rigorous search. Two different executive headhunters volunteered to help in the process. After 19 preliminary interviews, the field was reduced to four finalists, who had extensive meetings and meals with the SCTA and its senior staff. Hunt, who comes on board on August 19th, has been working as executive director of the Rotary Club of San Diego. Although now a San Diego resident, he will soon be moving to west Los Angeles. He’s optimistic and forward-looking, and hopes to play an important role in upgrading tennis in southern California.
