Jim Bates brings over 30 years of coaching and playing experience to Roosevelt University, where he was hired as the program's head men's and women's tennis coach.

Bates started playing tournaments at the age of 9; and, after a successful playing career in the juniors and in high school, he went on to play his college tennis at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. At WIU, Bates was a four-year standout for the Leathernecks from 1986-90, earning team MVP and all-conference accolades.

Bates then embarked on a career as a tennis professional working at a variety of private and commercial tennis and fitness clubs including:

· Head Pro - Danville Country Club, Danville, IL

· Assistant Pro - Bath and Tennis Club of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff, Lake Bluff, IL

· Director of Junior Tennis - The Clubs at River City, Peoria, IL

In 1996, Bates returned to his alma mater and served as the assistant coach for the men's and women's programs at WIU while earning his MBA with concentrations in Marketing and Finance. While in graduate school, Bates spent each summer in the Detroit area teaching as:

· Head Pro/Director of Tennis - Orchard Valley Swim & Tennis Club, West Bloomfield, MI

· Assistant Tennis Pro - The Sports Club of West Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, MI

Outside of his tennis duties at Roosevelt University, Bates stays very involved in the tennis community through coaching and playing competitively. Some of the highlights are:

· State of Illinois Representative for The Professional Tennis Registry

· Teaching pro at The Diversey Tennis Center on Chicago's lakefront

· Midwest Section ranking Men's 35 and over singles

· 6 time Champion - Midwest Section Hardcourt Championships, Men's 35 and over doubles

· Played #1 Doubles for River Trails 4.5 Men's Team that won the 2011 State of Illinois USTA Team Championship

· 2011 Champion - Men's Open Doubles, Peoria Clay Court Classic

· 2011 Champion - Men's 35 and over Singles, Peoria Clay Court Classic

Outside of his work with the tennis community, Bates has also found success in the business world. He is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor ("CEPA") and is a sought after speaker on business valuation and exit planning. In 2009, he Co-Authored "Business Valuation for Dummies" (Wiley Publishing). Currently, he is the founder of "intelligent Creativity", a boutique consulting firm that provides business valuation and exit planning services for privately held business owners.