ABOUT

DR. B. JONES

Private tennis lessons and racquet

services to help you level up your

game, one swing at a time.

About Dr. B. Jones Tennis Academy

My Story

Growing up in the South Bronx (1960s–70s)

I grew up in the South Bronx during a time when survival meant resilience. My parents, Dorothy and Cliff, gave me the love and guidance I needed to dream bigger than my environment. Without them, I might have been lost to the streets.

Discovering Tennis at Crotona Park

One summer day, I wandered into Crotona Park and stumbled onto a tennis match. I was mesmerized. The grit of the players and the energy of the crowd lit a fire in me. From then on, tennis became my passion and my escape.

The Hoe Avenue Boys’ Club

Fate stepped in again when the Hoe Avenue Boys’ Club opened right next door to where I lived. It was a safe haven for kids like me—and the place where I took my very first tennis lesson in 1972.

Coaching with NYJTL

At 14, I started handing out free lunches in the park. But soon, I found myself drawn back to the tennis courts, this time as a coach with the New York Junior Tennis League. Watching kids light up on the court reminded me of how I first fell in love with the game.

A Scholarship to Port Washington Academy

In 1977, I earned a scholarship to the Port Washington Tennis Academy on Long Island. It was a world away from the Bronx—new challenges, tougher competition, and an eye-opening experience that shaped me as both a player and a person.

Syracuse University

When I got to Syracuse, I learned they didn’t have a men’s tennis team. Instead of walking away, I stepped up and ran the student tennis club. That drive to create opportunities where none existed has stayed with me ever since.

Coaching at NJIT

Years later, I served as a volunteer assistant coach at NJIT, working with student-athletes from around the world. One highlight was our women’s team winning the school’s first NCAA Division I championship in 2014.

Head Tennis Pro - Berkeley Tennis Club (2022 - Present)

Now, I’m proud to be Head Pro at Berkeley Tennis Club, teaching on beautiful red clay courts and being part of a true tennis community.

But my greatest joy is giving back through the Dr. B. Jones Tennis Academy. Each week, I get to introduce kids in Essex County to tennis—and to the life lessons that come with it: discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and hope.

Photo Credits

South Bronx (1960s–70s)

Crotona Park Tennis Courts

Hoe Avenue Boys’ Club

New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL)

Port Washington Tennis Academy

NJIT Tennis (Volunteer Assistant Coach)

Berkeley Tennis Club

  • Jones, B.A. (2023). Bernie Slam II – Ladies Tennis Draw Participants, Berkeley Tennis Club, Orange NJ.

  • Jones, B.A. (2023). Bernie Slam II – Gentleman Tennis Draw Participants, Berkeley Tennis Club, Orange NJ.

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