James Johnson is one of Nevada’s greatest community leaders and one of its most beloved ambassadors for tennis. For more than five decades, he has devoted himself to making sure that every child and adult who wants to enter the game has a genuine opportunity to play, regardless of socioeconomic background, experience, or circumstance.
James’s own tennis journey began in 1964. He played college tennis at the University of Kansas, competed in professional circuit events, coached college tennis at South Mountain Community College in Arizona, and has spent more than 36 years coaching players of all ages and levels.
His honors are too numerous to list, including the 2017 USTA Intermountain Barbara Clark Diversity & Inclusion Award, a recognition that reflects the heart of James’ work: Expanding access, welcoming everyone, and using tennis to bring people together.
Through his work at the Marty Hennessy Tennis Center at Lorenzi Park and with the Inspiring Children Foundation, James has inspired and changed thousands of lives. He has been the kind of coach who shows up every day, with the same patience, care, and commitment for every person he serves.
His players have included extraordinary people such as Las Vegas City Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, who represents Ward 5, sports icon Mike Tyson, and Mike’s daughter, Milan. Yet James has always treated every person with equal respect and attention.
Equally important, James has been there for the children and families at Lorenzi Park who might otherwise never have had the opportunity to play tennis. Long before the Inspiring Children Foundation helped subsidize those experiences, James was finding ways to make tennis free and accessible. He never cared who someone was, how much money they had, or whether they had ever held a racket. If they wanted to learn, James was there.
“James Johnson is one of the most caring and selfless people I have ever known. He has shown up every day for decades, for both world class players and children and families who might never otherwise have had the opportunity to play tennis. James has never cared about a person’s background, resources, or status. He cares about the person in front of him. Long before the Inspiring Children Foundation could help subsidize free tennis at Lorenzi Park, James was already doing everything he could to make the game available. Nobody cares more about tennis, children, and this community than James Johnson. His legacy will live in the thousands of lives he has changed.” – Ryan Wolfington, Founder of Inspiring Children Foundation.
That impact was on full display at the Inspiring Children Foundation’s going away celebration for James at its offices. Countless alumni whose lives James touched came together to honor him, many with tears of appreciation, joy, and gratitude for the profoundly positive experiences he helped create.
On the Inspiring Children Foundation Instagram page, viewers can hear children, adults, alumni, and families sharing hours of heartfelt stories, many through tears of joy, about the impact James has had on their lives.
James is now beginning an exciting new chapter as a high performance coach in Florida, where he will have a special opportunity to continue his lifelong dedication to developing players, mentoring young people, and supporting the tennis community.
We congratulate James on his extraordinary career and wish him every success in this incredible new opportunity. James says he will return to Las Vegas often to stay connected with the community he calls his family. Although he is beginning a new chapter in Florida, his presence, mentorship, and legacy will remain an important part of the Nevada tennis community for generations to come.
