meet our pros
Nick Ruess
Nick grew up in Portland at the Irvington Club and competed in tennis collegiately at Linfield University, where he was a top-ranked player for the DIII Western Region. Over the past several years, Nick has served as a board member for the Greater Portland Tennis Council and is also a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), being awarded their Industry Excellence Award in 2012. Nick’s passion for competition can still be seen when he plays on the SHC 5.0 USTA team. Traveling, running with his dog Porter, hiking, and spending time at Cannon Beach keeps Nick active when away from work. Nick is a USPTA Elite Certified Tennis Professional.
Jon Griesser
Jon comes to us straight from Hawaii, where he has been teaching tennis since 1992. He was ranked 4th in the state of Nevada for 16-and-unders and played number 2 singles at Allen Hancock Junior College in Santa Maria, California. Having received his formal training at the Vic Braden Tennis College, Jon worked as a Teaching Pro at the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort and the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. While there, he worked with international VIP clientele as one of the resort’s most sought-after tennis pros. Since Jon’s start at Stafford Hills, his greatest joy has been watching his students develop and grow on and off the court. Jon has a love of golf, hiking, photography, paddle surfing, cooking, and travel. Jon is a USPTA Certified Tennis Professional.
Lisa Stoica
Lisa grew up a multisport athlete competing in Portland, OR. She competed for four years at the Division I level playing for University of Portland, Portland State, and Idaho State University. She graduated in 2005 from ISU with a BA in Psychology, which translates into a dynamic method of training that goes beyond the physical technique of play, understanding the mental strength and strategy required to take the game to the next level. Her favorite thing about coaching is helping people add variety to their games and watching them become better athletes.
Paul Hesser
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Paul Hesser found a passion for tennis on the courts of Antigua, Guatemala while there visiting family at 12 years old. After years of hard work, he started his tennis coaching career in 2002 at the University of Portland (his alma mater) as an Assistant Coach at The Academy. In 2010, Paul became a Portland State Viking as the Assistant Tennis Coach of both the men’s and women’s teams in addition to teaching six college tennis courses (beginner to advanced) for PSU students. Paul later went back to the University of Portland as an Assistant Coach for the women’s tennis team. He has coached numerous adult clinics, from beginner to advanced. Paul’s coaching includes video analysis of technique, match play strategy, conditioning, and focusing on the mental aspects of playing tennis. His teaching style is energetic and informative.
Bjorn Budden
Bjørn is a lifelong Oregonian who grew up in Lake Oswego. He started his teaching career more than 30 years ago, learning from many respected tennis professionals. In 1990, he studied under “The Pro's Pro”, Dennis Van Der Meer, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and is now a Level 1 teaching professional. His teaching career began at age 18 at Lake Oswego Tennis Center, where he was pro for nine years. After his tenure in Lake Oswego, Bjørn took a pro position at Multnomah Athletic Club. For 21 years at MAC he coached high level juniors, some of whom went on to win state championships and earn college scholarships. He also coached numerous USTA league teams onto Nationals. When he’s not on the court, he enjoys archery, the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing, golf, and playing guitar.