TennisOne Staff

Pat Etcheberry

A legend in the field of sports fitness and movement for more than thirty tears, Pat's knowledge and expertise is wide-ranging and has been since his days at the University of Kentucky where he was the strength and conditioning trainer for all of the university's intercollegiate teams. A former Olympian himself, Pat competed in the javelin event in the 1964 Tokyo Games for his native Chili, was the 1966 Southeastern Conference Champion, and participated in the Pan American Games from 1967 to 1971.

The name Etcheberry is synonymous with success in the sport of tennis, with Pat having trained nearly two-dozen Champions who have raised the Victor's trophy at more than ninety Slam tournaments and countless Masters contests. His players read like a Who's Who of tennis, including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Martina Hingis, Jim Courier, Sergi Brugeura, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Mary Jo Fernandez, Ken Flach, Mardy Fish, Iva Majoli, Gabriela Sabatini, Robert Seguso, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Pat has also trained fifteen Olympic Medallists.

Pat has also worked with world-class champion players in a variety of sports. In golf he has trained PGA winners such as Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Charles Howell III, Brad Faxon, Tom Scherer and Dicky Pride, and ranked LPGA players like Helen Alfredsson, Christie Kerr, and eighteen-year-old Junior's Champion Julieta Granada. In the sport of Indy racing, he has worked with Eddie Cheever and taught Al Unser Jr. conditioning techniques to manage his blood pressure to meet IRL's medical requirements to continue his racing career.

Beyond the sport of tennis, Pat has also trained NBA players including Rex Chapman (Suns), Kenny Walker (Knicks, Bullets) and Jason Williams (Kings, Grizzlies, Heat). In the NFL he has trained quarterbacks Shaun King (Buccaneers, Cardinals) and Jim "Captain Comeback" Harbaugh (Bears, Colts & Chargers), as well as Dermontti Dawson (Steelers), Victor Riley (Chiefs & Saints), Willie Parker (Steelers), and All-Pro Charles Woodson (Raiders). NHL stars Mike Richter (Rangers), Steve Shields (Sabres, Sharks, Mighty Ducks, Bruins & Panthers), and Peter Svoboda (Sabres, Lightning, Flyers & Canadiens), have received personal training from Pat, as has the entire New Jersey Devils team. Pat also trained Olympian Gold Medal speed skater and Sullivan Award winner Dan Jansen, and champion sumo wrestler Sale Konishiki.

And Pat not only trains world-class athletes, but he also designs and conducts client-specific programs for top executives and Fortune 500 companies that have included Texas Instruments, Merrill Lynch, Estee Lauder, Pfizer and Smith Barney, and entrepreneurs like W.T. Young (Humana Health Care) and Mike Hanna, to name a few.

Perhaps Pat most significant achievement came as a result of his own recent treatment for Colon Cancer at St. Joseph 's Hospital in Tampa , Florida . Pat has developed a fascinating and groundbreaking aspect to conditioning that empowers cancer patients and allows them to be proactive in their own recovery. So impressive were the results of his own regimen that, to his doctors' wonder, Pat was able to continue all his training responsibilities and tape a Strength & Conditioning for Serious Tennis DVD series while receiving monthly chemotherapy treatments. And his story is not only inspirational. His conditioning concept is transferable to other cancer patients.

Pat has served for years as Director of the Etcheberry Sports Performance Division at the Saddlebrook Resort, where he develops both world class professionals and aspiring players as young as eight years old in sports as diverse as tennis, golf, football, swimming and speed skating. His programs focus on improving overall physical prowess using unique training techniques he has designed specifically to increase stamina and performance.

I first ascertain what motivates each individual athlete. Through strengthening a person physically, I believe they can also be strengthened mentally. I will work on an athlete's strengths, but focus even more on their weaknesses, as that's where there is the most room for improvement. Workouts are sports-specific and intense. The training is such that anything they could face on game day couldn't be any more challenging than what they have been through in training. Thus the body and mind adapt and respond appropriately at the crucial moments.

Pat earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kentucky and his Master's Degree from Georgetown College . Known as an innovator for his ability to maximize results in physical training, Pat is a Contributing Editor to Tennis Match and Golf International magazines, and has been featured in Golf Digest. He has also written articles for the National Strength and Coaching Association Journal, as well as numerous sports periodicals including Tennis, Tennis Week, Florida Tennis and Tennis Life magazines.