Executive Team
Steve O'Keefe
General Manager
Steve joins the Cary Leeds Center with extensive years of tennis industry experience in the NYC metropolitan area, having overseen clubs and programs of all scopes and sizes. Prior to this role, Steve was the Executive Director of Tennis for Grand Slam Health & Tennis Clubs in Westchester, where he managed two active tennis facilities owned by tennis legend Ivan Lendl. From 2016–2021, Steve served as General Manager of the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club in New York City, where he oversaw the 12-court facility, guiding a major capital improvement project, developing the club’s camp programs, and managing day-to-day operations. Steve is also certified by the Professional Tennis Registry. Contact Steve at sokeefe@nyjtl.org
Ahsha Rolle
Director of Tennis
Ahsha was previously the Director of Adult Programs at the Cary Leeds Center and under her tenure those programs have seen extraordinary growth. Cary Leeds Center customers will continue to see Ahsha on-court delivering the very highest quality programming. Ahsha turned pro in 2007, after reaching top 20 national ranking in Junior Girl’s 18s. Having trained under Lori McNeil, #9 in the world in singles and #4 in doubles, and Ola Malmqvist, the head of women’s tennis at the USTA, Ahsha has achieved a career high ranking of 82 in the world in singles and a ranking of 111 in doubles for the WTA. She has played in all four Grand Slam tournaments at least twice, and has reached the 3rd round of both the US Open and Indian Wells in 2007. Ahsha also competed in the semi-finals Fed Cup tie against Russia in 2008. As staff pro at the Cary Leeds Center, she teaches Adults and High-Performance Juniors, seeking to develop each player’s unique game-style to help them reach their full potential with a blend of strategy drills and games to keep players engaged. In her own words, “Real growth occurs outside of your comfort zone, so I have a passion for pushing players to new levels in their games.” Contact Ahsha at arolle@nyjtl.org
Jayadeva (Jay) Devashetty
Vice President of Tennis Pathways
Jay spent nine years working as a national coach for the United States Tennis Association based in NY at Training Center – East. Jay was responsible for implementing the USTA teaching philosophy to top national juniors and professional players. Some highlights include coaching Kristie Ahn into the second week of the US Open last year and Ann Li to the finals at Wimbledon’s Juniors in 2017. When Jay was a player, he would rise to top 5 in juniors and top 10 in men’s in India. Contact Jay at jdevashetty@nyjtl.org
Staff Pros
Yesica De Lucas
Director of Junior Programming (ROGY)
Coach Yesica started her tennis journey at six, with highlights like playing her first tournament final and the NCAA All-American Championship doubles. Her experiences led her to coaching, with a notable stint at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. Emphasizing discipline, fun, and open communication, Yesica views tennis as a tool for molding young minds. As the new ROGY Director, she's eager to nurture juniors, especially in the Red, Orange & Green ball classes. Yesica's strength lies in her unique ability to connect with people and her vision to elevate the program's success both on and off the court. Contact Yesica at ydelucas@nyjtl.org
Rob Cizek
Associate Director of High Performance for Juniors and Adults
Rob brings international playing and coaching experience to NYJTL. Originally from the Czech Republic, he played on the National Junior Team and top-ranked collegiate tennis at Valdosta State University. He later earned his master’s degree in Sports Psychology while serving as Assistant Coach at Minnesota State University. Most recently, Rob coached juniors and adults at the Italian Center and Ivan Lendl’s Grand Slam Tennis Club in Westchester. Contact Rob at rcizek@nyjtl.org
Michael Nortey
High Performance and Junior Development
Michael was a world ranked ATP tour player for Ghana and represented his home country in the 2007 Davis Cup. Equally adept at coaching, his passion for the game is infectious and comes through on court. As a professional coach at the Cary Leeds Center, he works at developing the skills and techniques of high-performance green dot players. Michael also sends money and tennis equipment back to the young players of Ghana in order to encourage the same passion for the game that brought him to achieve world-wide success.
Boris Aguma
Coach
Boris Aguma, a 23-year-old Ugandan tennis player, excels with a right-handed double backhand on clay courts. Beginning at age 7, he has competed in prestigious tournaments like the ITF and ATP, and represented Uganda in the Davis Cup. A standout at Dillard University, he was the team's top player and captain. His career highlights include multiple tournament wins, and holding the number one position nationally for several years both as a junior and senior.
Administrative Team
Trisha Soogrim
Director of Business Operations & Client Services
Trisha is a college graduate from Pace University with a BBA in Business Administration in Finance. She has over 10 years' experience with non-profit organizations in the medical field. She has grown to love tennis throughout the years and finds her work at the Cary Leeds Center fulfilling. Contact Trisha at tsoogrim@nyjtl.org
Freddy De La Cruz
Staff Accountant
Freddy De La Cruz, a graduate from the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Brooklyn College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in finance, has always been passionate about numbers, math, and sports. From a young age, he has been enthusiastic about these interests, and now he finds fulfillment in bringing opportunities to his community that he didn't have access to earlier in his life. Freddy's dedication to his community is evident in the positive difference he makes daily.
Facility Team
Keith Martin
Facility Manager
Jerry Smith
Facility Operations
Alex Brown
Facility Operations