Professional Squash Coach John Williams
squash coach vitis
I started playing this incredible sport at just 4 years of age and my passion and fascination about the game continues to this very day. My journey in Vitis SportsCenter started 17 years ago and I'm thrilled that the project for the new center has been realized - mostly due to the tireless effort & incredible staying power of Center Owner - Kurt Locher. With a healthy Junior program in place and a robust offering for social players, the sky is the limit for the 'new' Vitis.
I'm a Qualified WSF Level 3 Squash Coach:
- WSF Level 3 Coach Qualification (PDF), WSF World Squash Federation / European Squash
- Swiss Squash Pool Trainer
- My full CV (PDF) with personal statement
Übrigens: Ich spreche auch Deutsch.
Skills & Achievements
PSA Professional Player 1991 - 2004
Highest World Ranking #15 April 2001 (Top 30: 1999 - 2002)
Men's World Team Champion with Australian team in 2001 (Melbourne, Australia)
National Coach 20 Years, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Squash TV Commentator 2017 to Date, PSA World Tour & BBC
Vitis SportsCenter Squash Coach since 2007
6 X NLA Swiss Team Champion (2004 Vaduz / 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 Vitis)
Coaching Experience
2006 – 2023 Swiss National Coach, Swiss Squash Association
Monthly training for National Squad players and weekend training camps in preparation for major events such as European & World Team Championships. Overseeing and managing training programs and overall team selection process for Swiss Men's and Women's teams. Former coach to Dimitri Steinmann (WR #38) & Yannick Wilhelmi (WR #65) Currently working with David Bernet (Swiss #5) & Miguel Mathis (Swiss #6)
Consultant coach to WR#9 Joel Makin since January 2023
PSA World Tour: Dimitri Steinmann | Yannick Wilhelmi | Miguel Mathis | David Bernet | Joel Makin
2007 – 2024 Head Squash Coach, VITIS SportCenter Schlieren
Proven track record of delivering successful junior programs, increasing court activity and bringing in new members to the squash club. Player/Trainer for the VITIS NLA Team from 2006 - 2019 winning 5 NLA team titles during this period. Events organiser for both junior and professional competitions as well as exhibition matches including former world number ones - Ramy Ashour, Nicol David, Jonathon Power, Greg Gaultier, Paul Coll & James Willstrop.
2002 – 2006 Liechtenstein National Coach & Professional Player, Liechtenstein Squash Association
National trainer for Liechtenstein and Club trainer for SRC Vaduz. Co-ordinated training for 4 men's teams, 2 ladies teams and the junior section. Achieved x1 Gold (Men's) and x1 Bronze (Women's) at the Small Nations Olympic Games of Europe in Malta 2003. Season 2003/04 player/trainer for SRC Vaduz winning it's first ever NLA Swiss League title.
1997 – 2004 Coach & Professional Player, Basel/Schaffhausen/Luzern
Relocated to Basel in October 97' and became squash trainer at the Van Der Merwe center. Working with 2 club teams and 4 junior teams, managing the "in-house" box league boosting competition between club members. At Schaffhausen I managed club and junior training for 3 years but coaching duties were reduced due to increased playing commitments on the PSA World Tour. Working with both Schaffhausen & Luzern, I coached 20 juniors every week with several pushing on to represent the Swiss Men's National Team.
Playing Experience
1991 – 2004 Professional Squash Player, PSA Professional Squash Association
Winner of 7 PSA World Tour titles and finalist in the Columbian, Windy City, Finnish & Malaysian Opens. Joining the PSA World Tour fresh from high school at 18 years old I played for 3.5 years basing myself between Europe and Australia achieving a best world ranking of 49 in May 1994. At this point in time I contracted Glandular Fever - which caused a Chronic Fatgiue related setback, keeping me out of the game for 3 years. In July 1997 I arrived back in Europe (Germany) & settled into a role as a part-time coach at the Van Der Merwe Center in Basel.
From 1997 until 2004 (part 2 of playing PSA career) - I had a 7 year period where I achieved the highlights of my playing career, including World Team Champion with Australia in October 2001, a highest World Ranking of #15 (April 2001) & various tournament victories around the globe. The experiences gained from being a professional squash player - from the training regime & the performance routine - provided me with a lot of the tools necessary to become a coach of the highest level, training world class players.
PSA Victories
2000 Grasshopper Cup, Switzerland
1997 MAAA Invitational, Canada
1997 Boz Aramis Open, Germany
1997 Isostar Open, Holland
1997 Manta Magic, Australia
1994 Cituat Open, Spain
1994 Danish Open, Denmark
TV Commentary Experience
2017 – 2024 SquashTV Commentator, Professional Squash Association
Read and see more on Squash TV Commentary page.