Racquet Fuel hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Per Nilsson, head men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida, for a leadership-first conversation about college tennis. Per shares the two cornerstones of his program—deeply individualized player development and a deliberately small, connected roster—and how those choices shape culture, performance, and recruiting. He also unpacks navigating a mid-season transition at UF, why self-care makes you a better leader, and how building a community hub can future-proof the sport on campus. 

What You’ll Learn

• The two cornerstones of Per’s program: maximize individual development while fostering a tight, small roster that pushes each other (think 7–8 players on a mission). 
• How to individualize daily work so every athlete gets what they need (e.g., surplus-one patterns for one player, mental skills for another) instead of rolling out the same plan for all. 
• Leading through a mid-year coaching transition: keep people whole in the moment, make the hard calls later, and align around a new vision. 
• You’re never “ready”—learn faster: over-communicate up/down, ask questions relentlessly, and shape authority with clarity. 
• Why self-care is leadership: turn the phone off, protect family time, then show up better for your team. 
• Future-proofing college tennis: build a campus community hub (donors, fans, shared value) so tennis becomes “untouchable” when cuts are considered. 
• Steal like a coach: Per openly “copies” what works, adapts it to his context, and keeps what produces results. 

Guest:
Per Nilsson - Head Men’s Tennis Coach, University of Florida (Gators Men’s Tennis).
Hosts:
Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports education
Simon Gale - USTA leader & facility executive

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