Carrollton tennis coach has come a long way … literally

Adam Brownlow is coaching tennis more than 4,250 miles from where he grew up.

Brownlow, 36, was once a youth tennis standout in Troon, Scotland, and he was coached by Judy Murray, mother of former world No. 1 Andy Murray.

However, Brownlow was burned out on tennis by age 13. He then left the sport for eight years before he returned to tennis as a coach. Once that change happened, Brownlow traveled to Sardinia, Italy to work as the head tennis coach at a resort.

From there, Brownlow coached in Texas and in Louisiana before landing in Miami-Dade County one month ago to coach at Carrollton, an all-girls’ Catholic school in Coconut Grove.

Paulina Aleman, a 15-year-old sophomore at Carrollton, said she has been playing tennis for nearly 24 months. But she said her breakthrough has happened while being coached by Brownlow.

Aleman, a lefty, said that prior to the arrival of Brownlow she would typically run around her forehand to hit her preferred shot, a two-handed backhand.

“(Brownlow) spots things in my game that I don’t see,” Aleman said. “He has improved my forehand. He knows about speed and angles, and he’s super encouraging.”

Carolina Rodriguez, Aleman’s mother, added: “(Brownlow) is the most amazing coach. We don’t want him to leave.”

Rodriguez then joked: “Can we find him a wife so he can stay (in the U.S. long term)?”

Brownlow said he’s fortunate to have rediscovered tennis.

“The first time I coached at a camp, I loved it,” Brownlow said. “I couldn’t believe they were paying me. I was thinking, ‘Why wasn’t I doing this my whole life?’”

Brownlow, who works as a tennis pro at the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne and in the summers serves as the director of tennis at Saltaire Yacht Club in New York, said he wants his sport to be fun for all his players.

In essence, he doesn’t want the girls at Carrollton to burn out the way he once did.

“When I was kid playing tennis, the sport was treated like a business, and it didn’t suit me,” Brownlow said. “I want all our players to smile and love the game.

“I want to bring energy and positivity, and, if I start with that attitude, the players will follow.”

Marco Paglialunga, Carrollton’s associate athletic director and beach volleyball coach, can identify with Brownlow.

After all, Paglialunga – the former assistant coach of Italy’s national volleyball team – moved to the U.S. 10 years ago for a better life.

“Adam’s resume speaks for itself,” Paglialunga said. “Adam’s background is expansive, and he has experienced the culture in Scotland, Italy and the Bahamas. He has an open mind and a curiosity about other points of view.

“We’re lucky to have a top-notch coach like Adam.”