Matz Claesson

For the past 25+ years, Matz has been the definition of high performance coach in the Mid-Atlantic region. With 9 Gold Ball winners, 3 different NCAA Champions, and 2 ATP Tour players in the Top 100 to his credit, Matz has solidified himself as a premier junior coach. Most notably, Matz has worked with Paul Goldstein (ATP #58 and 4-time NCAA Champion at Stanford University) from juniors through to his 10-year ATP career and Alex Kim (ATP Top 100 and NCAA Singles Champion at Stanford). With a unique blend of discipline and style, his court presence draws great respect from junior players and his dedication to students has shined through to almost three decades of players.

Matz, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, graduated from Lander University (South Carolina) in 1989 where he was a 3-time All-American and a NAIA National Champion in 1988. Matz lives with his wife, Lena, in South Carolina and has two daughters, Kate and Emma.

"As a junior player, I learned more from Matz than any other coach I'd been around. When we joined together to form OSSA, I thought I knew what I was doing as a coach-- and I couldn't have been more wrong. I've learned more working alongside Matz than one will ever know. His energy, insights and knowledge of the game are unparalleled to any coach I've ever met but his true genius can be found in how he relates to his players. To this day, that's his true gift and what makes him the best coach in the country. My mentor, my friend, my brother." 

--Vince Pulupa