Certified coaches who go the distance.

CEO & Co-Founder

Don Johnson

A Certified Tennis Teaching Professional with the USPTR for 30 years and a coach for over 40, Don has worked primarily with junior players of all ages and levels across the Portland and Vancouver metro area. In 1987 he co-founded Kids N' Tennis with Andre St. James, building partnerships with the USTA, PTR, Portland Parks & Recreation, schools, and local businesses to promote the game alongside health and nutrition.

He relocated to the Houston area in 2012 and created a sister program, Kids N' Tennis–TEXAS, that works closely with the Portland program.

✉ kidsntennis@gmail.com

President

Michael Navarro

Coach Mike taught his first Kids N' Tennis summer camp in 2004. An avid player, he first connected with the program through St. Johns Racquet Center, teaching students from Open Meadow Learning Center who earned PE credit on the court. His love of tennis and passion for working with kids grew into a full-time commitment.

Seventeen years on, he plays in USTA adult leagues and is a certified PTR teaching professional. His main focus is the Junior Development Program — you'll find him on weekends working with younger players on footwork, fundamentals, and fun.

✉ kidsntennis@gmail.com

Vice President

Kofi Asare-Konadu

Kofi has played tennis for 13 years — starting as a beginner with Kids N' Tennis, where his skills and passion for the game took off. After earning a B.S. in Biology from Seattle University, he returned to Portland to become a USPTR certified coach and Vice President of the program.

He enjoys developing beginners' athletic and technical skills and pushing advanced players to the next level. Kofi plans events and dreams up creative new ways to grow the program's reach, staying sharp through USTA tournaments, adult leagues, and constant training.

✉ kidsntennis@gmail.com

Coach · Mentor · Competitor

Amahal Barbee

Amahal's tennis journey began early and with impact. By age 14 he ranked among the top 30 junior players in Southern California, and soon after began teaching under respected mentors Donald Bly and Clarence Jones at Centinela Park in Inglewood — planting the seeds for a lifelong commitment to developing young players. At 17, the USTA surprised him with special recognition for his volunteer service to its juniors' program, an early sign that leadership and community would become central to his tennis story.

A pivotal moment came in 1997, when he trained on clay courts in France and competed in an international tournament in Strasbourg — an experience that sharpened his strategy and discipline, deepened his mental toughness, and shaped the competitive mindset he carries to this day.

Today Amahal competes at a high level as a strong 4.5 NTRP player with an 8.6 UTR, but his greatest focus is helping the next generation grow. He brings intensity, knowledge, and passion to every lesson — challenging players to improve their skills, strengthen their mindset, and believe in their potential.

Driven by gratitude for the game that has given him so much, Amahal is committed to ensuring every young player has access to opportunity, encouragement, and the life lessons tennis teaches on and off the court.

✉ kidsntennis@gmail.com