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Thomas Liversage is currently serving his second year as an assistant men's tennis coach at the University of Tulsa. Liversage came to Tulsa after serving as an assistant coach on the University of San Diego staff in 2008-09. He helped guide the Toreros to a West Coast Conference Championship finals appearance. Before joining the San Diego coaching staff, Liversage enjoyed a successful playing career with the Toreros from 2004-08. He was a four-year letterwinner, a six-time All-West Coast Conference selection and an NCAA Championship participant in both singles and doubles. Thomas sat down with Sammy Atri from Scholarship for Athletes to talk about his experiences as a player and as a coach.
Questions and Answers
Scholarship For Athletes (SFA): At SFA, we try to explain to our clients that the recruiting process is like being on a three year job interview; is that how you view the recruiting process? Thomas Liversage (TL): I definitely think the process can be like a job interview. College tennis is a business. Coaches propose an offer to you financially, and then your decisions once at college directly impact your growth and promotion up the lineup within that team. There are certain expectations that players have from us, and certain expectations we require from the player.
SFA: What advice do you have for the parents of high school student athletes about the recruiting process?
TL: My advice to parents is to consider all elements associated with a certain decision. Finances are one thing, player development, personality of coach/team in question is another. All things need to be weighed before committing to a team.
SFA: Assuming that they have the academics and tennis level to attend your school, when should junior players begin to contact you or send you their resume?
TL: We like to get contacted as soon as you know you want to go to school. Coaches want to hear from you.
