On any given day at the Southlake Tennis Center, the soft thwack of tennis balls echoes across sunlit courts, mingling with chatter from the shaded patios. Newcomers and regulars arrive for drills, lessons, and league play. But behind the daily routine is something deeper: a 25-year legacy shaped by Mia Gordon-Poorman and her husband, Stephen Poorman.
Together, the Poormans have built more than a tennis facility. They've created a welcoming hub where players find friendship, confidence and community - both on and off the court. That spirit is especially evident in Mia’s work with local women. By designing leagues and lessons around their busy schedules, she’s helped transform casual play into lasting connections.
“I’ve heard women tell newcomers, ‘Join a club, get involved in PTO, and find a team at the Tennis Center. That’s how you build a social life here,’” Gordon-Poorman says. “And we love that.”
From California Love to Texas Courts
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Stephen Poorman first picked up a racket in Southern California when he was eight years old and never looked back. His junior career was elite, and his collegiate career was decorated—a three-time All-American at Claremont McKenna College, NCAA team champion and eventual professional player traveling the international circuit. But perhaps more impressive is what came after.
"After I retired from the tour, I started teaching because I genuinely love the game,” Poorman says. “But more than that, I love helping people build self-confidence through it.”
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“Tennis is a tough sport,” Poorman explains. “It’s a game of mistakes. You're out there by yourself, and you have to learn how to handle errors, problem-solve in real time, and stay mentally strong. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, those are the life skills that tennis teaches.”
It was those life lessons that eventually led him to coaching, and in 1995, after Stephen and Mia relocated to Texas for her consulting job, he landed a role at a local country club. When the Southlake Tennis Center opened in 1999, Poorman was hired to direct the junior program. Then in 2002, the city of Southlake put the center's management up for bid. The Poormans, now with a toddler in tow, submitted their vision as a team—and won.
“Our goal is always the same: to help people make social connections through tennis,” says Gordon-Poorman. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that happen. We’ve had teams who’ve been here since we started. Those teams become your core people. And to me, that’s the greatest thing about this sport.”
An Elite Facility That Feels Like Home
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Thanks to the work of the Poormans, Southlake Tennis Center is more than a place to hit a ball—it’s a homecoming. Nestled in Bicentennial Park, the award-winning center features 17 lighted hard courts, two indoor climate-controlled courts, and a 1,500-square-foot pro shop. Men’s and women’s locker rooms mirror the amenities of a private club, but with a community-minded mission.
“That sense of family is part of our culture,” says Gordon-Poorman. “Everyone who works the front desk understands their role is to make people feel seen and wanted. Our coaching staff is the same. Our expectation is mutual respect and collaboration. Here, that sense of connection is built into everything we do.”
Southlake Tennis Center welcomes people from surrounding communities with open arms, but it prioritizes Southlake residents, ensuring locals enjoy the benefits of city-appointed amenities. Neighbors come together through shared interests, strengthening the community with far-reaching connections.
From a facility standpoint, the city’s investment shows. Courts are resurfaced regularly, landscaping is pristine and front desk staff greet each visitor like a member. The USTA has taken notice, too, naming the facility one of just 50 USTA Premier Facilities in the country.
“I think we’re most proud of the USTA Facility of the Year award, because we did not nominate ourselves. The Texas section nominated us. The USTA National Committee reached out to the individual regions and asked, ‘Who do you think represents what we think of as an example of what a tennis center should be?’ After conducting interviews and reviewing paperwork, we discovered that we had been named. We’re one of only fifty in the United States and one of very few public facilities,” says Gordon-Poorman of their prestigious designation. That kind of recognition is a reflection of the center’s core mission: teaching the game the right way, from the very beginning.
Teaching the Right Way From the Start
The foundation of Southlake Tennis Center’s success begins with its juniors. From the very beginning, The Poormans believed in teaching kids the right way—and that meant rethinking how tennis was introduced to young players by adapting the game to fit their needs, and ultimately, instilling a lifelong love of the sport.
“The thing is, tennis has long been the only sport that tries to teach kids on the full-sized version of the game—what I call the 'ultimate field,’” Gordon-Poorman explains. “Every other youth sport gets this right. In baseball, you start with T-ball, then move to coach pitch, then kid pitch on a smaller field. In soccer, kids start with no goalie, smaller nets, and smaller balls. These sports understand that child development must match the size, coordination, and strength of the child.”
Their approach was inspired by the European coaching model, which emphasizes the use of modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size and skill level. Rather than throwing five-year-olds onto full-size courts with standard balls, the Southlake Tennis Center uses low-compression balls, smaller rackets, and right-sized courts designed to help children succeed early and build proper technique.
Low-compression balls bounce slower and lower, allowing young players to rally sooner and learn proper strokes without frustration. As children grow and progress through four skill levels in each age group, the equipment and courts evolve with them.
“About ten years ago, a woman named Ann Pinker, an educator from the Lawn Tennis Association in the UK, came to talk to us,” says Gordon-Poorman. “She showed us how they teach 7- and 8-year-olds—and Stephen and I just looked at each other and thought, ‘Why aren’t we doing this?’ It was such a lightbulb moment. We realized we needed to make the game easier for kids to learn properly from the beginning.”
Match play is built into the curriculum from the start, teaching kids how to self-officiate, compete respectfully and stay composed under pressure. The lessons extend far beyond the court, permeating other aspects of their lives.
“You really see the mental side of the game come into play. Players are starting to challenge more calls, push boundaries, and it can get pretty intense out there,” says Poorman. “But that’s also part of the learning. There’s pressure to win, yes—but also pressure to stay composed, to manage doubt and confrontation, especially when someone questions your call. That kind of mental fortitude is invaluable—not just on the court, but off it too.”
Poorman adds, “We focus on effort and attitude. Those are things you can control. If your kid tried their best and kept a good attitude, that's a win.”
Changing the Game for Adult Beginners, Too
That same European-inspired framework that built a world-class junior program eventually led to one of Southlake Tennis Center’s most successful adult programs: “New to Tennis,” which started in August 2023. The program was born out of a simple observation—too many beginners were walking away from the game after just a few lessons, challenging the Poormans’ goal of helping people connect and build community.
“We wanted to change that,” says Gordon-Poorman. “We designed ‘New to Tennis’ as a long-term progression, helping adults build confidence and skills step by step. It’s not just about learning strokes—it’s about feeling capable and welcomed so that, by the time someone joins a league, they’re ready. That’s what makes them stay.”
The Poormans applied the same logic to “New to Tennis” that they used with kids: low-compression balls, smaller courts and developmentally appropriate progression to help adult players succeed from day one. Players focus on movement, timing and coordination without the pressure of mastering advanced techniques too soon.
The results have been transformative, particularly for the women of Southlake, many of whom have built deep, lasting friendships – something many adults struggle to achieve. Aside from lessons, league play, tournament play and volunteer opportunities abound, providing myriad connection points in one place.
“New to Tennis” participants not only improve faster but also stay in the game longer. Many graduates are going on to join leagues, form teams and even bring their children into the junior program, building a generational love of the sport. While the program is creating fresh bonds on the court, it’s far from the first time the center has sparked lasting connection. Over the years, entire teams have grown up together here—some playing side by side for decades. For those, it’s about far more than tennis.
“We’ve had teams who’ve been here since we started,” says Gordon-Poorman. “When I talk to them, there’s this beautiful nostalgia. Those teammates were there for the highs and the lows. They were there when a spouse passed away, when a child didn’t get into their dream school and for every birthday and milestone.”
A Team Built on Trust, Talent & Teaching
Behind every great program is a great team, and the Poormans have built one that reflects their values. Many coaches hail from collegiate or international backgrounds, but what truly sets them apart is their shared commitment to community and growth.
“Our coaches care deeply about improving,” says Gordon-Poorman. “They constantly collaborate, support each other, and ask for feedback. It’s a bit like a school—everyone follows the same teaching philosophy, but the personality of the coach makes each experience unique.”
Coach Diana Carvajalino, a former top junior from Venezuela and Division II college player, says the environment plays a big role. “Southlake is incredibly welcoming. The players are committed, and that makes coaching here so rewarding.”
Stephen continues to mentor the staff, often bringing in outside experts to help them grow. “That culture of curiosity and support is something we’re really proud of,” adds Gordon-Poorman. “It’s part of what makes this place feel like home.”
The Business of Belonging
Behind the Southlake Tennis Center’s success is the strategic and deeply personal partnership of the Poormans. While Poorman focuses on coaching and player development, Gordon-Poorman manages operations, programming and the long-term vision—bringing together their complementary strengths to create a thriving hub for both sport and community.
Their teamwork has helped the center grow into a powerhouse of local and regional play. With over 30 adult league teams and 10 major tournaments each year, including USTA playoffs and sectionals, the facility doesn’t just serve residents—it draws players from across Texas, generating substantial economic value for Southlake. Visitors book hotel stays, dine locally, and explore the city’s shops, giving the tournaments a far-reaching impact beyond the courts.
“We run 10 major tournaments a year, three that are really significant, including USTA Playoffs for 18 and over teams in May, and USTA Sectionals for 18 and over teams in August. And we’ve always thought that was our way of giving back to the city because people stay in hotels, they have lunch or dinner and they go to Southlake Town Square,” says Gordon-Poorman, who estimates that each adult player spends an average $350 per tournament, including lodging, meals, shopping and other incidentals.
The Greatest Game of All
The Poormans’ approach is as thoughtful as it is effective. Whether organizing match schedules or managing a national tournament, they lead with purpose, empathy and excellence. “Rather than just providing open courts and hoping people would show up, we focused on organizing activity. We built leagues, created junior programs and helped people find teams. Most public tennis centers don’t do that; they just provide space,” explains Gordon-Poorman.
As the Southlake Tennis Center celebrates its silver anniversary, it’s evident that the Poormans have created more than a tennis center. They’ve created a place where newcomers meet friends, parents find connection and kids grow into confident young adults.
“That’s really the philosophy at the heart of the Tennis Center: meet people where they are, give them what they need, and set them up to succeed,” says Gordon-Poorman. “Once they have that solid foundation, they can go on to enjoy tennis at any level they choose—and come back to it throughout life.”