George Rivers
MENTAL HEALTH COACH | TENNIS PROFESSIONAL
George Rivers serves as a Tennis Coach for the Elite and Transition groups and also functions as a Mental Health Coach for the Elite Academy at Giammalva Racquet Club. He has been associated with the company on and off since 2013 and transitioned to a coaching and mental coaching role on a contractual basis in August 2022. George brings a wealth of experience, including a distinguished college tennis career as an All-American and National Champion at Tyler Junior College and playing at the Division 1 level for Indiana University. He also served as the Men’s Assistant Coach at Trinity University for seven years before joining Giammalva.
EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
George holds an Associate's degree in Psychology from Tyler Junior College, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Texas at San Antonio. His practical experience includes completing practicums and internships at the UTSA Public Clinic and Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. George has been recognized as a two-time ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year and a two-time ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPERTISE
In his role at Giammalva, George is responsible for on-court tennis coaching and mental training for athletes. His expertise lies in combining high-level playing and coaching experience with advanced education in Sports Psychology and Counseling, applying these skills to enhance both the athletic and mental performance of his players.
PERSONAL INSIGHTS
George enjoys witnessing the success and growth of the athletes he works with. He approaches client interactions with honesty, transparency, and kindness.
OUTSIDE WORK
George enjoys playing various sports and studying athletes’ mental approaches to enhance his own coaching methods.