Coach Profile

Austen has been coaching since 2012, bringing his elite playing experience into player development at all levels. He began his coaching career in the United States as an Assistant Coach for both the Men’s and Women’s teams at Kenyon College, the No. 1 ranked Division III programme in the country at the time.

He then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he spent two years as the Men’s Tennis Graduate Assistant Coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio, a Division I programme, gaining valuable experience in high-performance environments and collegiate athlete development.

Following his collegiate coaching career, Austen joined the renowned John McEnroe Tennis Academy in New York, where he coached for three years. There, he worked with players of all ages and abilities—from junior Hotshots players through to advanced juniors and adult competitors—developing strong foundations, technical skills, and a lifelong love of the game.

After New York, Austen returned to Texas to coach privately, continuing to work with children, juniors, and adults of all levels, tailoring his coaching approach to suit individual goals, whether recreational enjoyment or competitive performance.

Playing Career

Austen Childs was born in Tauranga and began playing tennis at the age of nine. Showing exceptional promise early, he quickly progressed into New Zealand junior tournaments, where he established himself as one of the country’s leading young players. His junior achievements include being runner-up at the New Zealand Nationals in the 12s and 16s age groups, before going on to become New Zealand 18s National Champion.

At just 16, Austen began competing internationally on the ITF Junior Circuit. He rose to a world junior ranking of No. 40, highlighted by a quarter-final appearance at the Junior Australian Open, competing against the best junior players in the world.

In 2007, Austen earned a Division I scholarship to the University of Louisville in Kentucky, one of the strongest collegiate tennis programmes in the United States. During his collegiate career, he became a three-time All-American, achieving a career-high No. 8 national singles ranking and No. 6 in doubles. His standout performances included reaching the NCAA Singles Final in 2010 and the Doubles Quarter-Finals in 2011. Austen also played a key role in helping Louisville reach a then-university-best No. 10 national team ranking and advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships for the first time in the programme’s history.

On the international stage, Austen represented New Zealand as a member of the New Zealand Men’s Davis Cup team. In 2010, he played a decisive role in New Zealand’s 3–2 victory over Pakistan on home soil in Hawera, winning the deciding singles match. Domestically, he was runner-up at the New Zealand Men’s Nationals in 2009 and a semi-finalist in 2014.

Coaching Philosophy

Austen is passionate about creating an inclusive, positive, and challenging coaching environment. He believes in strong fundamentals, smart work ethic, and helping players develop confidence both on and off the court. With experience spanning grassroots tennis to the highest levels of international and collegiate competition, Austen brings a unique blend of professionalism, relatability, and proven success to his coaching.