Beverly Hills High School hired two new tennis coaches for the 2026-27 school year and launched a program to train middle schoolers before they reach the varsity level.

Tucker Fortson and Jesus Garcia took over the Normans' tennis program with an eye toward building a CIF contender. Fortson previously served as a tennis camp director and community engagement and development officer at Pepperdine University. He also coached at Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica. Garcia focuses on technique development, according to the Beverly Highlights student newspaper.

Fortson told the student paper in a Sept. 17 interview that he sees strong potential in the program and talented players at both the middle school and high school levels.

Early results back up the optimism. The girls' JV team opened the fall season with wins, and the varsity squad is also off to a strong start, the paper reported.

The coaches also run a new outdoor tennis program for Beverly Vista Middle School students. The pipeline gives younger players instruction from Fortson and Garcia before they arrive at the high school. Six new tennis courts opened at Beverly Hills High in March 2026, funded through the Measure BH bond program.

Fortson said he wants to give every player "a fair shot at getting into CIF, and taking it to next steps." The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) runs the state's high school championship brackets.

Tennis at Beverly Hills High operates year-round. The girls compete in the fall while the boys condition for their spring season, then the two sides swap. That structure gives both squads a full semester to sharpen their games before league play.

Freshman JV player Miele Biton told the student paper, "We've been working hard, supporting each other, and improving every time we step on the court."