What Coaches Have Said
The DTS College Prospects Showcases allow me to see many prospects who have both the tennis and academic credentials to be a viable candidate for Georgetown. I love the ease of showing up knowing that I’ll be able to see prospects play both singles and doubles in set period of time. For college coaches the Showcases are a must.
—Gordie Ernst,
Head Men’s and Women’s Coach,
Georgetown University
There is no more knowledgeable voice of in college recruiting than Tim Donovan. His showcases are the best organized and most beneficial ones of their kind in the country.
—Dave Schwarz,
Head Men’s Coach,
Brown University
This year I FINALLY made full use of your event. I contacted participants before the event and it really made a HUGE difference. I’m in communication with about 7 of the participants.
Thanks for hosting a superb event that both coaches and players love!
— Linda Park,
Head Women’s Tennis Coach,
Occidental College
The Showcase has given my recruiting picture more clarity and has been a great benefit to our program.
—Nate Simms,
Head Men’s Coach,
Skidmore College
Just wanted to tell you that each year gets better and better. I think this year was especially successful with the number of players in attendance. The showcase was deeper this year with solid credentials. I would like to thank you and you staff for a wonderful job in making the showcase a huge success.
—Michael Vann,
Head Men’s Tennis Coach,
Goucher College
You and your staff did a wonderful job of displaying talented student-athletes who want to continue their tennis in college. Many folks remarked that the talent pool was quite better than they expected this year. I came to see about 10 interested student-athletes and got to see several more than that. It was a wonderful event. Keep up the great work.
—Ann Koger,
Head Women’s Tennis Coach,
Haverford College
What Clients Have Said:
I really think highly of Tim Donovan and the service DTS provides and will use him again for my son who is a sophomore.
First he gives an accurate evaluation of which schools might be interested in your son or daughter and their level of interest. Just as in the regular admissions process, some schools might be a reach but are still possible.
Next and what I found most important is that he knows so many of the coaches well. They give him feedback on what their recruiting situation looks like. Your son or daughter will then know where they have the best chance of 1) getting recruited and 2) playing. It s such a huge advantage and basically the equivalent of going into the NFL draft knowing who 12 of 15 teams ahead of you are drafting.
So much of the process is patience and steadfastness as the pieces of all the team puzzles move into place. If things work out early decision or action, that is great, but if they don't then the tennis recruiting landscape changes dramatically. Teams gain and lose players and suddenly have open slots and the only way to anticipate where those slots may be is to know how the recruiting process is shaping up. Coaches and other players won’t share it with you. But they will share the info with Tim because his goal is really to match up both sides, help players and coaches without compromising one coach or program to another.
For my daughter who is at Williams, and was our first through the college process, we used SAT, college counseling coaches....all very expensive. Next time we are working with Tim, and no one else. No private SAT companies, college counseling services.... This is really the only service that gave us substantial value.
—David R. (Westfield, NJ)
Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in the College Showcase. My dad and I talked about how fortunate I was to get to be a part of this event and how I really do feel that it will help me immensely in the college recruiting process. I felt like the event did more than just allow me to show my tennis skills to coaches. It taught me more about the recruiting process in general, it gave me a feel for where I stand at the college level, and it opened me up to many more colleges that I would never have considered without this event. Everything about the event was impeccable and I can't imagine the amount of work you and your staff must have dedicated to making sure this event ran perfectly. The search for the right college is not easy, but thanks to you and all who assisted you in this event, my search is going to be much less stressful.
—Markie W. (Lake Oswego, OR)
We are writing this letter to tell you how very pleased we were with the services that you provided to our son Evan and ourselves navigating the college recruiting process. Since Evan started playing seriously late (13) and he suffered an injury part of his sophomore to junior year his ranking did not represent the type of player that he really was. Meeting with you and having you evaluate Evan’s game was great for Evan and he really enjoyed playing with you. Your advice to us throughout the process was incredibly helpful and spot on. Playing in your showcase at Yale gave Evan exposure to schools that would not have been available to us on our own. Your responses to our questions as the process unfolded, again was invaluable. Your knowledge of the coaches and the schools and who had the serious tennis programs was extremely important. Evan has gotten a tremendous amount of interest from very fine colleges and is still getting calls from coaches. I think that retaining you was one of the best decisions we made. It has enabled Evan to attend an excellent academic college and play Division I tennis which was his and our goal. He is playing his best tennis ever. Again thank you for all of your help.
—Barbara Z. (Essex Falls, NJ)
Tim, you were a pleasure to work with. From the day we first met you, Mark, Alexander and I had complete confidence that we were in the best hands. Your professionalism, integrity and relationships with tennis coaches at elite academic institutions were significant benefits of working with you. You were an incredible mentor and counselor for Alexander and me. We would highly recommend you with no reservations to anyone.
Most helpful was the relationship you built with Alexander. You were an invaluable mentor, advocate and advisor with respect to key aspects of the tennis recruitment process. You have outstanding skills in interacting and motivating Alexander. After we engaged you, Alexander's tennis and academic performance improved immediately and continued to do so. You were always available by phone or email whenever Alexander or I had any questions. You were always honest and straightforward even when the answers you provided weren't necessarily what we wanted to hear. He and I found your showcases to be extremely valuable. As you know, Alexander attended both, and was able to develop important relationships with many coaches and demonstrate his skills and strong character for them. Many coaches attended your showcases and provided Alexander with a stage to perform in front of them. He was able to speak to many coaches and develop relationships with them. Both showcases were very well run.
—Mary Clare F. (Great Neck, NY)
I just wanted you to know that your Showcases were amazingly helpful in Casey's quest for a college tennis home for 2010. We haven’t made any decisions yet, but the opportunities you presented us with were amazing. Many of the coaches there suggested Casey to other friends of theirs at other colleges--and we still hear from interested coaches TODAY!
—Marc R. (Manhattan Beach, CA)
I can’t thank you enough for all that you have helped me with over the past few months. Everything has turned out so much better than I ever could have imagined, and your persistent work definitely made a significant impact. I’m so excited for my next four years at such an amazing school as Georgetown!! There are not enough words to describe how thankful I am for your help.
—Madeline J. (Laguna Beach, CA)
Just wanted to send a note of thanks. The college application process has been quite a journey and your expertise is greatly appreciated. Of course, the fact that Ally got into her first choice completes the experience, but had she not I would maintain that our decision to seek your council was well founded. In my mind, the second and third options were just as inspiring as the first. There is no doubt that your participation was a major contribution both to the outcome and our ability to navigate the last few months without anyone suffering a major break down.
—Tom L. (Teaneck, NJ)
As one of your former showcase participants, I thought you would enjoy hearing about Tshema's Freshman year. She played #2 singles and #2 doubles for Emory University. She earned All-American honors in singles, ITA Rookie of the Year Atlantic South Region, and First Team Second Singles and Second Team Second Doubles in the University Athletic Association conference.
Participating in the Yale Showcase helped Tshema to decide on the Division she wanted to play and narrow her selection of schools. She received a tremendous amount of attention after the showcase which at times was a bit overwhelming for her. But with premed as her intent, she decided Division III was best and she had a very successful Freshman academic and tennis year. Emory has proven to be an excellent fit for her and she looks forward to her sophomore year.
Thanks again for following up with her after the showcase and I have told many tennis players about the benefits of your showcase.
—Denise N. (San Marino, CA)
A HUGE THANK-YOU for everything you did for Greg this past year. You guided all of us through a process that a year ago we had no clue about. We now feel like experts. Due to your input and putting us through the proper steps, Greg had so many options for college tennis. Many more opportunities than we ever thought possible. Going through the process really helped Greg figure out what he wanted from his college academically and from collegiate tennis. He is so happy with his decision and felt great and in control during the whole thing. It was wonderful to see him smiling through a process that usually makes kids so anxious.
—Rosemarie J. (Ridgefield, CT)
Wanted to say just how valuable we felt the showcase was. Olivia used to be top 100 on tennis recruiting and her ranking has dropped over the last few years for medical and other reasons and she was not able to raise it in time to qualify for clay courts so she participated in the showcase instead. The irony is that this was a much better event for her in light of her academic interests, and she has had terrific feedback from schools in which she is interested. Thanks so much, and we'll spread the word in the South about how valuable the event was.
—Laura M. (Marietta, GA)
Tim "demystified" the college recruitment process for us. His knowledge about the college game and familiarity with coaches and teams allowed us to easily identify those schools that were appropriate choices for our daughter in light of her academic interests and her desire to play collegiate tennis. With Tim's guidance and direction, we avoided wasting time and energy looking at schools that were not a good fit for her. In the end, she received several scholarship offers from Division I schools, but decided to attend Yale University. I can honestly say that working with Tim was a pleasure
—Pamela D. (Boston, MA)
What a great showcase! Mia enjoyed participating in the showcase and I appreciated all the hard work and organization that was put into the showcase. We will be telling all the girls in Texas about the showcases for next year.
—Yvette M. (Katy, TX)
I just wanted to let you know that I will be going to Claremont- McKenna next year. I visited the campus twice and fell in love with the place. I love the school and the coach and feel honored to be accepted there.
I want you to know that I really feel that you greatly helped me realize this dream. Your showcase was a tremendous experience that gave me the confidence that I can play at that level. Your support through the recruiting process was great. Thank you.
—Ernie Hayhurst (Amarillo, TX)
As we all know, the college recruitment/selection process can be very confusing and frustrating for both the student-athlete and his/her parents. After numerous conversations with our family (and taking into account Casey’s desire to play two sports intercollegiately), Tim was able to effectively hone in on schools that were excellent “fits” for Casey and vice-versa. His integrity, grasp of the process as well as his relationships with coaches (who, time and time again, expressed their respect for Tim) provided instant credibility for Casey and simplified the process immensely. Tim was (by far) the most valuable consulting resource we encountered (including Casey’s high school college counselors)!!
—Michael S. (Rye, NH)
Stephen and I thought the event was great! All the coaches we contacted were able to see Stephen play plus as a bonus we had contact from other coaches who are interested as well. Again, kudos to you and your staff for making this a great event for my son and for my family to enjoy.
—Bruce K. (Boyds, MD)
As the father of four USTA junior tennis players who have gone on to play college tennis at Harvard and Middlebury College, I simply cannot say enough great things about Tim Donovan's professionalism and thoughtful ability to successfully guide a young player through the recruiting process. The College Showcase and Tim's involvement made a huge difference for our children.
—Kieran B. (Summit, NJ)
I just want to tell you that the showcase was a masterful event. The turnout of coaches, the quality of players, and the staff you provided were all top rate. Miles thoroughly enjoyed the matches, we both learned a lot about the process, and feel optimistic.
— Mark G. (Ridgewood, NJ)
I have to thank you for all your help. Quite honestly, I think without your counsel, I would have lost my mind or made many missteps along the way. It was invaluable to have your perspective and input in what turned into a long and curious process. I am, and will continue, recommending your services to others.
—Janice W. (Beverly, MA)
Thank you for putting together a special event for not only my son but for all the other players who hope to play collegiate tennis.
Your showcases will be highly recommended by me. Not only did my son get to know several of the coaches of the schools he is applying to but other coaches have contacted him as a result.
—Dale H. (Beverly Hills, CA)
I believe Will has shared with you the news and his thanks regarding his ED acceptance to Connecticut College and of the coach’s communications about his opportunities to play on the team. I wanted to personally thank you for all your efforts in helping us to fulfill Will’s desire to play tennis at the collegiate level. We approached you with a unique situation considering Will has been playing his high school tennis in the UK; and you certainly contributed to his ultimate success. The exposure experience last summer at Yale was real eye opener for Will, both in terms of what the the level of play was amongst the top participants and of his realizing that he could hang with a number of players at that level of play in the end.
—Bill T. (London, UK)
Thank you so much for running the showcase in California last weekend. I had a great time and I really liked it out there. Pomona and Claremont McKenna are in a gorgeous spot and I am glad I got a chance to see the area and meet the coaches. It was also fun to get to play with such good players from around the country. Even though it was a short trip, I had a great experience that I will remember for a long time. Thanks again!
—Andy D. (Dover, MA)
I wanted to send you this note to thank you for all your work with Samantha! I guess you probably know - she received her acceptance letter from Tufts in mid-December and is just thrilled! She cannot wait to start working with coach Bayard in the fall and to take in all that college has in store for her!
You have truly made a difference in Samantha's life, and helped to open the doors leading to - what she hopes will be - an amazing future.
—Judith G. (Massapequa, NY)
I just wanted to thank you for a great weekend at Claremont! It was both fun and informative. It was a perfect opportunity for Megan (and Len and me) to get acquainted with the tennis recruiting process and meet some of the college coaches and other high school girls. We also appreciate you taking the time to share your personal college experience with us. Playing college tennis seems much less intimidating to Megan and much more fun for all of us!
—Carol G. (Pasadena, CA)