Our People

Pender Murphy

Founder/Coach

#1 player, captain, and All-America at Clemson University; voted one of the ACC’s top 50 all-time players; achieved an ATP world ranking of 102; member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Charlotte Latin High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He worked in commercial real estate for many years before starting TLA in 2009. Now, along with TLA, he tutors at several CMS elementary schools.

pendermurphy914@gmail.com

  • Charlotte native
  • Clemson University Graduate
  • Family: Patti, Farrell and Tricia

Jeff Beard

Coach

Jeff is a native of Fresno, CA and a graduate of the University of Florida.  He worked for 30 years in Department Store Merchandise Management.  He is married to Nancy and they have one son, Kevin and two grandsons.  Along with TLA, Jeff is a long-time volunteer with Special Olympics tennis.  He is teaching a generation of players the “flashlight” forehand and backhand.

jlbeard20@gmail.com

andy-bio-img

Andy Avram

Director/Coach

Andy is a native of Winston-Salem and a graduate of Wake Forest University, where he was the #1 player. He has won over 20 North Carolina state titles and is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. He still plays about every day. He makes up for diminished court mobility with increased court savvy.

His son, Gabe, is one of the top junior players in the country and will be playing for the University of South Carolina starting in the fall of ’24.

maa@cshlaw.com

  • Charlotte attorney
  • Family: Tammy, Ally and Gabe
andy-avram-and-son
tucker-02
avram-fam

(Pender, Jeff, and Andy receive no compensation.)