Alex Stait

I started coaching full time at 25 years old when due to Microfracture surgery on my knee I had to stop playing PSA. Being so young gave me a lot of time to learn how I wanted to coach and I took time to watch coaches such as David Pearson, Malcolm Willstrop, Annette Pilling and John Milton to decide how I wanted to structure my coaching philosophy. I started the Bowdon Squash Academy in the UK and coached on Junior Regional and National Squads for England Squash. I moved to the US in January 2012 to work at the Merion Cricket Club for two years before starting at the Agnes Irwin School as the Director of Squash. In the past six seasons we have progressed from 31st in the US to finishing second in 2017 and 2018. . As I joined Agnes Irwin I started up StaitSquash academy and we have been very fortunate to have had a lot of the top juniors in the US and numerous National Champions play in our program. Over my 8 years in the US, I started working on the Regional squads for US Squash and then the British Opens and Battle of the borders before becoming Assistant National Coach in 2016 and then Head National Coach for the Boys in 2017. Highlights have no doubt been us gaining the Bronze medal in the World Team Championships in Poland and India. I have been extremely fortunate to learn from so many coaches over the years and with the wealth of nationalities of coaches in the US feel like I am learning more now than ever.

Best Advice

Not so much advice from one particular coach or person but I have tried to use my experiences as a player both good and bad help me as a coach. Coaches that showed me they really cared about me as a person not just the squash side always made me feel so much more confident and happy. The major guidance that i draw on is that ability to care about each player I work with and to be aware of their different personalities and what makes them tick. My favorite coaches did this with me and then I would buy into what they said on the court 100% as I trusted them.