Matt Gregg
Matthew Gregg is the General Manager at Sun Oaks Tennis and Fitness and has been playing tennis for 10 years. He believes that tennis is the best sport for developing a growth mindset as well as crucial character traits, such as resilience and determination. He has been on the Ascension Project board for 2 years now and wholeheartedly supports its mission to develop young adults as high-character individuals, first and foremost, knowing that their tennis skills will develop with their personal development.
Jeremiah Walsh
Ascension was the brainchild of Jeremiah. His primary focus is providing the vision and strategic leadership for Ascension. Through his insights both into people and the world of tennis, he is uniquely positioned to drive the future of this exciting organization. His breadth of knowledge and experience is unparalleled and provides the foundation for success of the programs. Something else…
Although he was born and raised here in Redding, much of his training and experience has come from outside this immediate area. His credentials include 1. Attending the Van Der Meers Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina 2. Being the Head Coach of the Virginia Military Institute Men’s Tennis team making him the youngest Division I Head Coach at the age of 24. 3. Starting a tennis facility management company where he received the USTA National Programming Award for Excellence. 4. Leading the University of Northern Colorado men’s tennis program through the transition to Division I and the Big Sky Conference. 5.. Before returning home to Redding, he was the Head Coach at Southern Oregon University where the team set a new school record for single season win percentage.
Jeremiah is the proud father of two young sons, Wyatt and Gradyn.
Joy Tucker
Joy Tucker has spent the last 14 yeras working for CAL FIRE. The previous 18 years she spent as an elementary school teacher and school prinicpal. Joy has been a member on many non-profit baords: Straight Arrow Archers, Ishi Archers, Potter Valley Rodeo, ReddingDragstrip and now the Ascension Project.
Joy has been married for over 30 years to her wonderful husband Sam and they rasied two kids. Their daughter graduated from West Point and married another officier in the Army. They currently live on the east coast and have precocious kids.
Their son is who really got Joy into tennis. He played at Anderson High School and then got mom and dad into the sport. Joy and Sam play at Sun Oaks and have also traveled to tournaments. Other hobbies include drag racing her 1966 Plymouth Satellite, cooking, and reading.
Austin Kische
Austin Kische serves as the Head Coach for Team Ascension and contributes to the Ascension Project Board, embodying the very principles the organization stands for. His connection to Team Ascension began in June 2011 as a player, where he honed his skills throughout his high school and college summers. This foundational experience was pivotal, leading to League MVP and All-Section honors. Austin furthered his education and tennis career with a year at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania before transferring to Montana State University in Billings, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.
In 2016, Austin’s passion for tennis transitioned into coaching when Jeremiah Walsh, his former coach and Team Ascension’s founder, offered him a coaching position at Sun Oaks. Now, as Head Coach of Team Ascension, Austin is deeply committed to the organization’s core philosophy: “develop the player, and the player will follow.” This principle has always resonated with him, inspiring him to become a central part of the Ascension community.
John Kelley
John grew up playing tennis in Northern California and we call him the “pied piper of tennis”‘because of his passion and love of the game. He currently teaches 4th grade at Grant Elementary School. He has 23 years of teaching experience along with administrative experience. For 31 years, John has been involved in tennis instruction and currently is a part-time instructor at Sun Oaks Tennis and Fitness, and is also the tennis coach for the Grant School tennis team.
He attended Cedarville College in Ohio and earned a BA in Elementary Education. At Cedarville, he played college tennis for three years.
John is married to Cindy and they have twin daughters, Elizabeth and Jayci, who participate in the Ascension program, have pursed collegiate tennis opportunities, and are continuing their own journeys.
Steve Kinder
Steve brings a plethora of business management and tennis experience. His tennis playing began in North Virginia and then he went onto play collegiate tennis for two years in Honolulu, Hi, where he was ranked in the Men’s Open Top 100 in both singles and doubles.
Steve was the Head Coach for the Men’s Tennis Team at Leeward College in Hawaii, and subsequently was the Head Coach for the Boys and Girls teams at Foothill High School, in Redding.
His business experience includes being Operations Manager at the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, Sales and Marketing Manager at Best Western Hilltop Inn/CR Gibbs American Grille and General Manager of Gaia Hotel and Spa and Woodside Grill.
Steve is the father of two sons, Gabe and AJ
Carlos Miranda
Carlos Miranda is a Financial Advisor who joined Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in 2004 in the Redding office. In 2010 he earned his Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning, and is also designated as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) through Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he worked 16 years for United Parcel Service as an Operations Manager. Carlos has been actively involved with several non-profits over the years, serving as Vice-Chair for the Northeastern California and Northern Nevada Make-A-Wish Foundation through 2014 and as a board member for Ready for Life through 2014, a private non-profit, faith based agency committed to providing safe and loving homes for hundreds of children in Northern California.
Carlos is married to his wonderful wife Tami, and together they have raised 3 great children. His two daughters have graduated from Simpson University, and his son is currently a Junior at Simpson University and also plays on the University’s Soccer team. Carlos enjoys playing competitive tennis, pickleball, reading, and hunting down vintage and antique treasures.
The Ascension Project 