Inside Ferris State University’s Professional Tennis Management Program

The Professional Tennis Management Program at Ferris State University has been in place since the mid-1980s and is designed to prepare students for careers in tennis and other racquet sports. Michael Janz, the program’s Assistant Director, shared insight into how the program functions and how it has evolved alongside the industry.

Janz has served in his current role for nearly seven years and is also a graduate of the PTM program, having completed his degree in 2014. When combining his time as a student and as a staff member, he has spent more than a decade at Ferris State.

He began playing tennis at age eight while growing up in Wisconsin and competed for four years at the high school level. Early on, his career plans were not focused on tennis. Janz originally considered becoming a middle school social studies teacher, following a family background in education. That direction changed after he discovered the PTM program through an online search. “I typed in ‘tennis jobs,’ and Ferris State PTM came up. I didn’t even know a college degree in tennis existed,” he said.

After graduating, Janz gained experience in several areas of the tennis industry. He worked as Director of Tennis at the Alpena Tennis Complex in Michigan and later as a teaching professional at Saginaw Athletic Club. He also spent time with Tennis Analytics, providing match statistics and video analysis for NCAA Division I programs, professional players, and junior tournaments. “That was before a lot of the automation we see now,” Janz noted. “Everything was done manually at the time.”

Source: Ferris State University’s Professional Tennis Management Program

According to Janz, most graduates of the PTM program continue to enter on-court teaching roles, which remain in high demand. At the same time, the range of career options has expanded. “With pickleball, padel, and platform tennis growing, employers are looking for professionals who can work across multiple sports,” he explained. Graduates also move into management positions such as directors of tennis or head professionals, as well as roles in sales and with equipment manufacturers.

The program’s curriculum has been adjusted to reflect those changes. Pickleball has recently been incorporated, and students graduate with a business degree along with professional certifications. “They earn Level 1 and Level 2 tennis certifications through the RSPA, and they also receive Level 1 pickleball certification,” Janz said.

Hands-on experience is a central part of the PTM program. Classroom instruction is paired with immediate on-court application. “They’ll be in the classroom for part of the time, then go straight to the court to apply what they’ve learned,” Janz explained. Students work through peer-to-peer teaching, practice coaching juniors and adults, and take part in structured on-court development sessions that focus both on playing and teaching scenarios.

Source: Ferris State University’s Professional Tennis Management Program

The PTM program attracts students from across the United States and internationally. Over the years, participants have come from nearly every U.S. state and from 17 different countries. Many international students also compete on Ferris State’s men’s and women’s tennis teams. Janz described the environment as close-knit, with students spending much of their time at the university’s racquet and fitness facility.

For international students interested in staying in the U.S. after graduation, internships play an important role. “Students are required to complete summer internships,” Janz said. “Those internships often lead to full-time jobs or connections with employers who are hiring.”

Looking ahead, the PTM program will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1986, the program will mark the milestone with its annual banquet on March 20 and 21, bringing together alumni, industry speakers, and current students.

Additional information about the Professional Tennis Management Program is available through Ferris State University’s website and social media channels, or by contacting the program directly.

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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy.