History of NERS

     New England Racket Services originated in Lincoln, Me in 1976.  Bill, in partnership with his mentor Jerome Claire, started C & S Tennis.  Providing local players with rackets and accessories, they quickly included stringing services as well.  Unfortunately, Bill and his family soon ended up moving to Windham, ME to continue his teaching career; C & S Tennis was no longer.  

     In Windham, Bill opened his version of “ShardlowTennis” where he continued to string and provide racket services.  After serving as the Director of Tennis at Point Sebago Resort for one summer, he became Director of Tennis at Purity Spring Resort in East Madison, NH for over ten years where he continued to string and provide services. Taking a hiatus from tennis to raise two sons, Bill returned to work with his brother running "ShardlowTennis" summer camps at various locations around the state.

     After navigating a divorce, he relocated to Wayne, ME where he reopened his tennis shop,  Unfortunately, family educational needs would soon require moving again.

     Moving back into southern part of the state, he opened "Bill’s Tennis Shoppe" and started to expand his service skills. While working at Portland Country Club as an assistant teaching pro, he eventually decided to focus more on his racket & stringing business.  Expanding the service to include customization, it was time to broaden this service to include a wider area.  Hence, "New England Racket Services" was born. 

     Bill’s coaching/teaching career started at Mattanawcook Academy in 1976 when became the boy's and girl's varsity tennis coach. The Professional Tennis Registry first certified him in 1978.  That same year, Bill was the Director of Tennis at Point Sebago Resort and Campground. He was in charge of ten courts and held daily clinics and lessons, as well as weekly tournaments.  From 1979 to 1988, Bill was Director of Tennis at Purity Spring Resort in East Madison, NH, where he was responsible for the organization and operation of all tennis activities, including the training and supervision of staff. He was also the Women's Varsity tennis coach at Windham HS (leading them to their first ever tournament berth), but left that position after a few years as he was spending most of his summers in NH.

     After a ten-year hiatus from tennis (raising his two sons and coaching a significant amount of baseball), Bill returned as the Women's Varsity Tennis coach at Windham High School, leading the team to the tournament three consecutive years while posting a 30-6 record. He also worked as a part-time assistant teaching pro at The Woodlands in Falmouth, as well as being the co-director of ShardlowTennis Academy for eight years.  After moving to Wayne, ME, he was the JV Boy's coach at Brunswick, then volunteer assistant for the Women’s Varsity team at YHS (state champions), MS coach at Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, on the tennis staff at Camp Winnebago, and actively involved running tennis camps and clinics.     

     Moving to North Yarmouth with his wife, Tennie, and his step-son, Hunter, Bill was the head pro for Wayne St. Peter's Grand Slam Tennis Camps at the Cheverus facility during the summer of 2014.  

     From 2015 to the present, Bill has been on the tennis staff at Portland Country Club where he is the tennis facilities manager. His responsibilities include stringing, court maintenance, as well as some lessons and clinics.  He is presently the Boy's Varsity Tennis coach at Yarmouth HS (2019 & 2021 Class B State Champions & Portland Press Herald Coach of the Year), tennis coach at Harrison MS, President of the Yarmouth Tennis Association, and part-time teaching professional at A-Copi Tennis in Augusta. 

     Bill continues to be a certified teaching professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (Elite Professional rating) and the Professional Tennis Registry, as well as a member of the United States Racket Stringers Association, European Racket Stringers Association, International Racket Technicians Alliance,  United States Tennis Association, and other local/regional tennis organizations.  He is certified in Junior Development by the PTR (Professional rating) and also holds a Developmental Coach's certificate from the USPTA.  He is a registered provider for the USTA Net Generation program and a SafeSport certified coach.  Bill is well known for bringing a positive attitude, great sense of humor, strong work ethic, and fun to all his tennis endeavors.