Coach Unboxed EP18: John Williams, pro tour tennis coach of Taylor Townsend since 2021, having coached her through two doubles Grand Slams championships (Wimbledon and the Australian Open) and many other WTA titles and finals. John is also an entrepreneur, thought leader, and book author.
John shares about his New York upbringing through different sports and becoming an entrepreneur at age 16, leading multiple businesses and eventually landing in the fitness industry. He reflects on the start of his tennis journey as a fitness coach and how Taylor asked him to become her actual tennis coach, even with no playing background. John touches on the unique work they’ve done together as Taylor navigated pregnancy and returning to the tour, and how his philosophy of self-mastery combined with his competitiveness fosters his personal and professional growth.
About John Williams: Raised in Long Island, New York, John is the founder and Chief Clarity Coach at Elevate With John, an evolution-based organization at the pinnacle of human performance, coaching, and rehabilitation. He is also the founder and Chief Performance Officer at Axon Sport Performance, and has consulted for an array of iconic companies such as Nike, Mizuno, and Men’s Health Magazine.
John started in high-level performance tennis working with Grace Min, later meeting Donald Young, whom he traveled with to Grand Slams and ATP Masters 1000 events before connecting with Taylor Townsend. Through his organizations and the many sports he has been involved with, John has coached 1.5K individuals including Olympians and World Champions. His philosophy is captured in his book “The Champions Code: 5 Attributes of Winners.”
Follow John Williams on Instagram @elevatewithjohn and LinkedIn John Williams .
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Production: Unbox Sports; Location: Embarc Collective; Music: BongÔMusics; Photo: John Williams
