Private Lessons & Coaches in Lake Forest, IL

I bring over a decade of coaching experience in tennis and pickleball, helping athletes reach their full potential through focused, athlete-centered training. After competing in tennis at the highest level, I now actively compete in pickleball tournaments, combining high-level insight with a fun, competitive environment.

Igniting passion and skill on the court is my specialty. As a solid tennis and pickleball player, I taught highly regarded skills clinics in the local community. Most of my players experience rapid progress on the court and leave the clinic with much more confidence and enthusiasm for the game. I offer tailored instruction to elevate your game, making learning fun and effective. Let's achieve your goals together! I’m passionate about the sport and would like to help as many people learn and improve as possible. If you need a lesson outside of Wilmette in the north shore area, please send me a request. I’ll see what I can do. All my sessions will be tailored specifically to individual players. Here’s an overview of what we will do based on your levels: For Beginners: Building the Foundation The goal is to get you up and running so you can truly enjoy your new sport. I will focus on laying a solid technical foundation and teaching you the key strategies needed to start playing matches. By understanding the "how" and the "why" early on, you will see consistent, rewarding progress over time. For Intermediate Players: Breaking the Bottleneck I will identify exactly what is holding you back—the specific moments where you feel uncomfortable or lose points repeatedly. We’ll use purposeful, engaging drills to turn those weaknesses into strengths. Often, refining just one specific shot can transform your entire game. From there, we will progress into advanced shot selection and point construction. For Advanced Players: Mastering the Margins At this level, it’s about fine-tuning your unique style. I will analyze your game to sharpen your anticipation, balance, and footwork. Our sessions focus on high-level decision-making, precise targeting, and superior ball control. Finally, we’ll integrate the "secret sauce" of the competitive game: mental toughness and peak physical fitness.

"I’m an advanced tennis player. Playing pickleball is easy but also humbling as I level up when patience and strategy become critical. Wen helped me understand the key difference between the two sports and develop skills and intuition to play competitively in pickleball.

With 15 years on the pitch, I cultivate skills and passion for soccer. My dedication fosters growth in a supportive environment. Let's elevate your game with expertise and enthusiasm! I can also teach goal keepers incredible skills of goalkeeping

I played soccer recreationally in weekend leagues for 10 years, coached my son for six and rose to advanced AYSO coach and a member of the AYSO Evanston board before stepping way from the game. I have since returned, passing the IHSA coaching course in 2025 and working with Super Soccer Stars as a coach and assistant coach, teaching children ages 5-12.

With 22 years in combat sports and athlete development, I bring the kind of experience you can't teach—you earn it. I competed exclusively in the super heavyweight division, finishing my amateur kickboxing career at 12-0 before turning professional, where I went 3-0 in kickboxing and 1-0 in professional boxing. Along the way, I earned three championship titles: TCB Illinois State Amateur Champion (1997), TBC Windy City Champion (1998), and TCB Midwest Champion (1999). Beyond my own competition history, coaching is where I’ve built my legacy. I’ve trained and cornered dozens of male and female athletes across boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, helping them build confidence, sharpen technique, and step into the ring prepared to win. My approach is equal parts technical detail, discipline, and mindset development—because a fighter’s body follows where their belief leads. I’m not here just to teach punches and kicks. I’m here to develop competitors, leaders, and resilient athletes who know how to push through, get better, and show up like champions.

"I hesitate to give constructive critique via message. As we know, words are not always interpreted as intended. That being said, here we go: I have worked with 4 personal trainers over the years. IMO you are the best. You know how the body works, what we should be feeing and where we should feel it. You have shown me that the smallest tweak can make the biggest difference. You’ve been through some things and you also know how the body doesn’t work (injuries) and you are careful about that. I like your training style and if I am not being challenged, neither of us is doing our best. Thank you for not swearing during our sessions. Please don’t tell me I’ve done something well, when I can feel I haven’t. False “kudos” are not appreciated. I understand we live in a time where everyone expects “good job” just for breathing, but when a person who is critical tells me my form/technique was good, I can believe them. Thank you for reminding me to “get out of my head”, but sometimes I need to step back for a minute; take a pause to reset. We’ve had some heated discussions and I’m fine with that as long as we come to an understanding by the end of the session. We play hard and a few clashes are to be expected as long as we have respect. I hope to meet the corporate people next time they come in. I will tell them how I appreciate your knowledge and workout advice. Sorry. Not so short.

Football has been my passion since early childhood. I grew up learning the basics of the game, living it every day — playing it, studying it, and enjoying every match I watched. Football is not just a sport to me; it’s a way of life. Over the years, that passion naturally evolved into coaching. I believe in developing players not only technically, but mentally and emotionally — building confidence, discipline, and love for the game. I come from Africa, where football talent runs in our blood and skills are developed instinctively from a young age. I combine that natural foundation with structured training to help young players grow, improve, and reach their full potential. Let’s build strong, smart, and confident players together.

Hi, I'm Ki. I'm so glad that you've decided to learn the guitar! With each lesson, I pull from my 13 years of professional experience to equip students with what they need to build confidence in their guitar playing. Lessons are tailored to you and include theory, technique, and learning popular songs. If interested, we can even cover the basics of home recording and songwriting. Book your lesson now and let’s get started together :) I offer tailored lessons for beginner to intermediate learners, blending technical skill with creative exploration.

"I liked that every step is broken down and that she has the patience to work with me before moving on. I really enjoy the cultural aspect of the lessons she gives about performing, and the different styles of music she’s experienced in. Her lessons have helped me apply even very basic knowledge to challenging situations.

I am a former Professional and International soccer footballer and have individually trained athletes for about 19 years now. I have coached football development academies for boys/girls ages 7-18. I've coached ages 2-5 with Soccer Shots, all ages of club level, coached at the high school level and I was an assistant coach at the collegiate level. I have also coached abroad in Australia and Iceland. I also served as a trainer and mentor for the Philippines Youth National Football Team in 2024.

""Coach Tahnai was great. I'd recommend Coach Tahnai to anyone looking to improve and develop their soccer practice."

I have played soccer for more than 20 years and have been an assistant coach for nearly 5 years. I focus on improving players technical skills in conjunction with deepening their tactical understand of soccer. Whatever aspects of the game you want to improve I can help!