Meet Our Tennis Staff
Meet Our Team
The New Albany Tennis Center and Kobelt Tennis Academy is Proud to have 7 Certified Coaches, 2 with Masters Degrees.
USPTA and PTR Certification demonstrates the highest level of commitment to coaching and customer service in our sport.
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Paul Kobelt
OWNER/DIRECTOR OF TENNIS/GENERAL MANAGER
Certified Tennis Professional
Current GCTA Board Member, Current Ohio Valley USTA Board Member/VP
Master's Degree in Business Management
Former General Manager of Bollettieri Tennis Academy - Paris, France
Former Director of Tennis for 18 years at New Albany Country Club
KTA’s unique teaching system is based on Coach Paul Kobelt’s 43 years of teaching experience which includes positions as Director of IMG/Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Paris, France and 27 combined years as a Country Club Head Pro/Tennis Director at the Milwaukee Country Club, New Albany Country Club and currently, Columbus Country Club. In 2005, Paul founded the New Albany Tennis Center, which is a famiy owned and operated year-round tennis facility open to the public.
During his 30 years as a USPTA Elite Professional, Paul received extensive training by the USTA’s National Coaches as a Competitive Training Center Coach and also while earning their “High Performance Specialist” Designation. He has also attended over 1500 hours of continuing education and, over the years, has had the great fortune of learning from dozens of very talented co-workers, college coaches, WTA/ATP players and coaches and from organizing and conducting clinics with over 25 former Grand Slam Champions
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Eric Spohn
INSTRUCTOR
Eric started playing tennis when he was 14 years old, and has been in the tennis industry for over 15 years. He currently has an NTRP rating of 4.5, and still actively plays in World Team Tennis and USTA. He is also an accomplished tennis photographer, doing work for the ITA, Tennis Week Magazine, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Toledo University, and Ohio Dominican University, as well as our very own New Albany Tennis Center. Eric works at the Western & Sourthern Open Tournament in Cincinatti each summer as a staff photographer, having his work featured daily on their website. Eric aslo enjoys watching old matches of tennis legends.
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Ryan French
INSTRUCTOR
-Coaching Certifications: USPTR Certified, NTRP Ranking of 4.5
-Where are you from: Reynoldsburg, OH
-Tennis Playing Background: State Qualifier at Reynoldsburg High School, OCC Champion, Honorable Mention All State
-Favorite Grand Slam: US Open
-Favorite Tennis Memory: Playing the Ohio State Stickney Center at the State Tournament in High School
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Brian Hutter
INSTRUCTOR
-Certification: USPTA Certified Instructor 2018 and Professional in 2024. Safe Play Certified
-Where are you from: Kalamazoo, MI; Home of the USTA boys 16/18 championships
-Education: Bachelor of Science Degree from Michigan State University with a double major in Retail Management and Political Science.
-Tennis Playing Background: Played High School Tennis, plus 1 year of College. Currently play on USTA/GCTA 4.0/4.5 teams
-Favorite Grand Slam: French Open; love the red clay
-Favorite Tennis Memory: Ball Runner in Kalamazoo for John McEnroe, Paul Annacone and Stan Smith
-Brian teaches part-time evenings and weekends, as he works during the day as a demand planner for Frontgate
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Bethany Buchert
OFFICE STAFF
-Where are you from/cities where you have coached: I am from Columbus, OH and previously worked in daycare for 5 years and pre-k for 2 years
-Areas of Study: Working on my early education degree, focusing on Kindergarten and 1st grade
-Hobbies: Taking my dog on walks to the dog park and playing volleyball with friends
-Tennis Playing Background: My only background in tennis is from gym class! I hope to widen my horizons and join in on some of the clinics we offer at NATC!
-Favorite Age to Work With: I enjoy teaching the Pre-K age. They are always so eager to learn new things which keeps every day interesting.
-Favorite Teaching Memory: My favorite memory from teaching would be when I took my class on a field trip to the movies over the summer. The excitement of each student made the trip special. Being able to build a connection with each student is what motivates me to continue with my degree.
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