Gary Bourgeois returns to Mississippi Gulf Coast for another year in 2020-21, having started building the premier MACJC tennis program in the state back in 2004.

He’s led 17 squads to the NJCAA National Tournament and sent more than 30 Gulf Coast players on to four-year schools, from NCAA Division I to the NAIA. More than 50 players have been Academic Student-Athlete Awards, and Margarita Lopareva became the school's first CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2019.

Bourgeois has 12 different state and region Coach of the Year awards, and his players have advanced to five straight ITA Small College Championships/Oracle Cups. He's coached back-to-back ITA Region III Women's Sophomore of the Year award winners.

He holds USPTA Elite Professional Certification, as well as USPTR Professional Certification.

Bourgeois is the past director of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Austria and California, president of the Tennis Players Fitness Institute’s ATP/WTA Development Program and international clinician fro Prince Racquet Sports. He’s been a private coach on the ATP/WTA ITF World Tour.

He was selected as the Team Mississippi coach for Junior Davis Cup by the USTA/MTA.

Bourgeois graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi and was a quarterback for the Golden Eagles football team.

Career highlights

• Men’s and Women’s Head Tennis Coach since 2004
• USPTA Elite Professional Certification
• USPTR Professional Certification
• ITA/WILSON Region III Coach of the Year 2015, 2017
• MACJC Women’s Coach of the Year 2008, 2014, 2017
• MACJC Men’s Coach of the Year 2013, 2015, 2018
• Mississippi Association of Coaches Coach of the Year 2008, 2013
• NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year 2013, 2017
• USPTA Mississippi Coach of the Year 2008
• Coached 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2018 Women’s teams to NJCAA National Tournament
• Coached 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Men’s teams to NJCAA National Tournament
• Coached 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Women’s Singles and Doubles to the Oracle Cup/Small College Championships
• Coached 2018 Women’s Doubles to the Oracle Cup/Small College Championships
• Coached 2017 Women’s Team to MACJC and Region 23 Championships
• Coached 2013 Men’s Team to MACJC and Region 23 Championships
• Coached 2014 Men’s Doubles to Small College Championships
• Coached over 50 MACJC Academic Award winners
• Placed over 25 MGCCC players at four-year programs including Division I, II, III and NAIA
• Director, MGCCC Summer Junior Camp Program 2004-2014
• Director, NICK BOLLETTIERI TENNIS ACADEMY, Austria/California
• Private Coach, ATP/WTA ITF World Tour
• President, TENNIS PLAYERS FITNESS INSTITUTE, ATP/WTA Development program
• International Clinician for PRINCE RACQUET SPORTS
• USTA Private Coach for Girls 18’s National Championship Series
• USTA Education Merit Award, Southern Section 2002
• USTA/MTA Education Merit Award 2002
• USTA/MTA Team Mississippi Coach Girls 14th Southern Closed Championships
• USTA/MTA Selected Team Mississippi Coach Junior Davis Cup
• Bachelor of Science, University of Southern Mississippi