Andrea Barnes

Meet Colleen

For Colleen Clery Ferrell, tennis was more a “family” sport than a competitive one through high school.  She took up the game when her dad gave her a Maureen Connolly racket so she could play with her three  brothers.  They played as a family, and she played #1 on her high school team in Palatine, Illinois, but she was never a junior tournament player. 

It was only after her father died during her freshman year of college that she decided to dedicate herself to tennis to honor him.  Her goal was to make it on to the pro tour.  She worked towards that goal during stints at the University of Illinois and University of Arizona, eventually deciding to leave prior to completing her degree to try the tour.  She was quickly disillusioned with tour life after a year of competing.  She did come away from her tour experience with one habit that she continues to this day which is sketching.  She uses it to calm herself and stay in touch with her introspective side. 

She enrolled at San Diego State and graduated with a BA in journalism in 1987. While a student, she began teaching tennis at Vacation Village and is still there 39 years later, although it is now called Paradise Point.  In 1990 she was named the San Diego District Tennis Association Female Pro of the Year.  Her time at Paradise Point will come to an end soon as the property has been sold and will be redeveloped.  She will continue to work in tennis though as the Director of the 1600-member Balboa Tennis Club, a job she has held for the last 17 years.  This position allowed her to become deeply involved in the local, sectional, and national tennis community as the Club hosts a number of large tournaments during the year.  Despite her two jobs and family responsibilities, she manages to play tennis 4 to 5 times a week at lunch time–even though doing so means she doesn’t leave work until 8 pm.  While Colleen became a “competitor at heart” from growing up competing at everything with her three brothers, she believes that sportsmanship is paramount now…win or lose she loves to compete. 

Colleen’s proudest and happiest tennis moments have come from competing in Mother-Daughter events with daughter Cassidy who was an All American Division 2 player at Stanislaus State University.  The two recently won their first gold ball, capturing the Mother-Daughter National Hard Court Championships this year.  In addition, they were ranked number one nationally in Mother-Daughter in 2021.

Colleen is very grateful to Brenda Carter and Roz King for encouraging her to join and get involved at the Board level with the NSWTA, now the NWTO.  She is a tireless ambassador for women’s play and would love to see more tennis opportunities for women of all levels.  

On three separate occasions, Colleen had an experience that stands out far beyond a big win:  She saved a life through using an AED.  She says, “That surpasses any tennis high to have been able to help someone continue living,” and she urges all of us to be sure our clubs have AED’s accessible so other lives can be saved.