The Ocean Pines Association has named veteran area tennis coach Terry Underkoffler as the new director of racquet sports.
Veteran coach Terry Underkoffler took over March 15
Ocean Pines Racquet Sports Director Terry Underkoffler
Photo courtesy Ocean Pines Association
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
Terry Underkoffler, a tennis coach from Ocean Pines and Worcester Preparatory School, has been named the new director of racquet sports for the Ocean Pines Association.
The role has been vacant since the previous director, Tim Johnson, abruptly announced his departure in January. Johnson was hired as racquet sports manager last April but resigned in October. He was brought back a week later and promoted to director and served in the position for less than a year.
Underkoffler was named Johnson’s successor on March 15. OPA Director of Public Relations and Marketing Josh Davis said the new director has been involved in Ocean Pines racquet sports for about ten years.
A United States Tennis Association-licensed teacher, Underkoffler was appointed OPA tennis director in 2020. While maintaining the position, he also taught the sport at Worcester Preparatory School. Davis said Johnson has been coaching since 1977.. His career includes coaching soccer and winning more than 500 games at Worcester Prep, as well as at schools and clubs in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Given the department’s recent turbulence, OPA officials are relieved to have the role filled by a leader in the sports field.
“Terry answered the call when the GM and Ocean Pines had a need,” Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Viola said in a news release. “He’s a team player with the necessary skills, and we felt he was the ideal person to help bring us to the next level.”
The general manager also assured in the release that Underkoffler would receive assistance from Membership Supervisor Ruth Ann Meyer, Deputy Public Works Director Nobie Violante, and Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue in his new position.
“I’ve put a lot of my heart into the racquet center, between teaching and coaching and playing there for almost 10 years,” Underkoffler said in the release. “I love the variety that the Racquet Center provides and the kind of instruction that we have. I think it’s just going to grow, and it’s only going to get better.”
Underkoffler is looking forward to maintaining and enhancing the racquet center.
“My vision is that we’re looked at as a premiere destination for pickleball, tennis, platform tennis, Timeless Tennis and Spec Tennis, and all kinds of recreation that families can enjoy,” he said.