20 September 2024 | Tennis Victoria

The Coaching Excellence – Development Award at this year’s Tennis Victoria Player Awards celebrates the dedication and achievements of outstanding coaches who have made significant contributions to player development and the sport of tennis in Victoria.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists: Steve Blundell, Michael Logarzo and George Vogiatzis, each recognised individually for their exceptional leadership, technical knowledge, and commitment to fostering the growth of tennis at all levels.

This award honours coaches who have shown exceptional coaching performance, demonstrated innovative approaches, and made a positive impact on players’ careers and personal development.

Meet the finalists:

Steve Blundell

Steve Blunder, Head Coach at Melbourne Tennis Concepts, is a High-Performance Coach who has built a reputation for creating a holistic player development environment that focuses on both the physical and mental aspects of the game. Steve is known for his meticulous and thorough development plans. One of his standout achievements includes coaching top junior athletes to success in national tournaments, namely assisting the program of Gabrielle Villegas. Steve’s dedication to player growth and attention to detail have cemented his status as a leading figure in tennis coaching.

Michael Logarzo

Michael Logarzo, Director – ML Tennis, is an experienced coach with a Performance Level 3 Coach qualification, who currently mentors approximately seven players in the Super 10s competition. He is dedicated to providing a holistic player development journey, incorporating a comprehensive approach to coaching which nurtures both the athletic and personal growth of his players. Over the years, Michael has been the long-term coach of Zoe Hives and Musemma Cilek. He has a demonstrated commitment to developing high-performing athletes and coaches alike and empowering them to ‘create their story’.

George Vogiatzis

VIDA’s George Vogiatzis has plenty of experience coaching high performing junior athletes, most notably Scarlett Dattoli and Novak Palombo, as well as other top national emerging juniors. With a proven track record of developing young athletes, George has produced three national champions in just 12 months and has multiple athletes in the National Development Squad, alongside Novak who is in the TA Academy program. Currently, George is enhancing his coaching expertise by working towards his Performance Level 3 Coaching Qualification, further demonstrating his commitment to excellence in player development.

Previous winners:

2022/23 – Marc Sophoulis
2021/22 – Michael Logarzo