Our Instructors
Hiram Gonzalez
Director of Racquets & Athletics
Hiram Gonzalez is the Director of Racquets and Athletics at Sweetwater Country Club. He is certified RSPA Elite Professional, PTR level 2 and Certified Racquet Sports Executive (CRSE) with 20 years of coaching experience.
Hiram recently was recognized and awarded the USPTA Industry Excellence award for 2022. Hiram graduated from Texas A&M Commerce where he played collegiate tennis and satellite ITF tournaments. Before moving to Sweetwater, Hiram spent 2 years at Midland Country Club were he help develop a strong Adult and Junior program. He also develop a successful Junior Program at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas.
Jo Schneeweiss-Keene
Assistant Director of Racquets & Athletics
Jo is a USPTA Elite Professional, RSPA Certified Director of Racquet Sports through UF, Gigi Method certified coach and IPTPA Level 1 pickleball certified coach, with 17 years of coaching experience. Jo works with all ages, with a focus on the adult recreational doubles player.
Jo played collegiately at the University of Houston, and still plays competitively, having won multiple 5.0+ National team titles and is USTA rated 5.5.
Jo was named one of the Nation's Top 25 female coaches in the Tennis Channel's Top Coach contest in 2021.
Sean Curley
Head Racquets Professional
Sean brings over 15 years of experience to Sweetwater Country Club, he is RSPA Elite Professional, was ranked junior Top 200 nationally. He played division 1 tennis at Robert Morris University. Sean oversees the Junior Program Men's program and pickleball. We lucky to have Sean as our Head racquets pro.
Bart Bernstein
Tennis Professional
Before moving to Sweetwater, Bart worked at various clubs including Barton Creek Country club -Head Tennis Pro, University Houston Clear Lake -Director of Tennis, Texas Christian University -Assistant Coach- Director -Pro, and John Newcombe's Tennis Ranch -Assistant Pro. He was #1 Men's Open Singles in Texas '85, National Collegiate Doubles Champion -NCAA & NAIA '81, National Collegiate Singles Runner-Up-NAIA '81, Collegiate All- American '80 & '81,4 time UIL State High School Champion '74-'77, and USPTA certified teaching Professional- P-1 Rating. Bart graduated with a degree in Business Management from Southwest Texas State University.
Donni Leaycraft
Co-ed Coordinator, New Member Liaison.
Donni, of New Orleans held a top 10 national ranking in the Boys 18, and played on the US Junior’s Davis Cup Team along Jim Courier and Michael Chang
While earning a Business Degree at LSU, Leaycraft was a two-time college All-American and the only player to win the NCAA Division 1 Singles Championship. He was named to the All-SEC Tennis Team for four years. Leaycraft remains LSU’s all-time winningest player and is a member of the LSU Hall of Fame and Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame.
Leaycraft competed in the Men’s US Open in New York. After college, he played on the ATP Tour prior to teaching at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Subsequently, Leaycraft was the Director of Tennnis at the Country Club of Louisiana for twenty years and is an RSPA Elite Professional.
Eric Cornejo
Tennis Professional
Eric is a RSPA Elite certified Professional, PTR 3 Tennis Professional, Certified on tour level coaching through Academy Sanchez Casal, RSPA Pickleball certified with 30 years of coaching experience. Eric is part of the coaching team for the Elite Junior Tennis Program at Sweetwater Country Club.
Eric played for the Panama National team and is a former Pro Futures Player. He has been the High School Tennis Head Coach of the State Champion Fort Bend Christian Academy for 15 years and is proud parent and coach of two former college players.
“I'm fortunate and honored to be part of my players' tennis journey as we learn to play, compete, and appreciate this great sport.”
For additional information on Tennis at Sweetwater CC
Please call the Tennis Shop at 281.980.2255
