Mico leads the way again - University college set to introduce tennis course

The Mico University College in Kingston is forging ahead in curriculum development for teachers by introducing tennis as part of its physical education teachers' course. Starting September 2017, the sport will be featured and continue for two years.

The course was designed by Douglas M. Burke, the current president of the top tennis club in Canada - ACE. He is also a former director of Tennis Jamaica and Tennis Canada's 2013 Recipient of Coaching Excellence. Burke captained Jamaica's Davis Cup team, appearing in a total of 18 ties. He is an all-round acknowledged expert in the field.

The tennis course, in the form of a complete compendium/tennis manual, was donated to The Mico by the Phillip & Christine Gore Family Foundation (GFF), in partnership with Tennis Jamaica.

The jewel in the crown of the course is its intended lecturer, Dwayne Pagon, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division I) competitor who represented Howard University in the United States while obtaining a degree in finance. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise from the American system and is also a former Davis Cup captain for Jamaica.

Pagon is currently a senior member of the coaching staff of the most successful young tennis team at Immaculate Conception High School. The school has been victorious in the Inter-Schools Tennis Competition on numerous occasions.

The patrons of the course will be Douglas Burke and Karl Hale (former Davis Cup player for Jamaica and currently tournament director for Canada's prestigious Rogers Cup). Both esteemed tennis pros have expressed their excitement and enthusiasm for The Mico course and no doubt, will be invited to participate as guest lecturers.