Private Lessons & Coaches in Durham, NC

Hello family!!! I’m Ja and I’m currently playing simi professional basketball for the Carolina kings. I would love to help better the youth in my community get better at the sport they love playing.

"Ja honestly made basketball fun for me again😂😂ik it sounds crazy but he honestly did.! Thank you man!!

30 years of professional performance, for audiences large and small.  I have always enjoyed teaching guitar to anyone that has interest.  My students say I am very patient and that I make lessons fun.  I also bring extensive experience coaching other skill disciplines like Tennis and Soccer that I can draw upon when finding different ways that different people learn best.

I aim to facilitate a friendly, informative space where we can work 1 on 1 to achieve your goals.

I turn tactical insight into measurable progress on the field. As a dedicated football coach, I combine technical expertise, individualized training, and a passion for player development, bringing years of teaching experience to help athletes refine skills, build resilience, and enjoy the game.

Hi, I’m Taylor! As a once competitive junior, I trained under NC Tennis Hall of Fame coach Tommy Dixon, building a foundation that still shows up in my game today. After a decade away, I returned as an adult, reaching 6+ UTR. That journey gives me a unique perspective on what players at every level need. My philosophy: real foundations, real technique, real growth. We work hard to build a game you can be proud of. Whether you’re new, returning, or chasing the next level, I’ll meet you where you are.

Darlene has spent over 30 years in the field of Sports Medicine and high-performance coaching. She earned her BS degree in Sports Medicine with a concentration in Movement Science & kinesiology. Darlene also holds two graduate certifications in Mindfulness Education and Inspired Coaching & Leadership. Darlene has worked with high performance athletes in tennis and soccer, from Juniors to professionals. She is WTA and USTA credentialed as a coach.

Graduated in 2018 as a French and Francophone studies major from FIU. As I am Colombian born, I know how to speak Spanish and use it every single day at home. Grade Potential Tutoring was my first endeavor where I discovered my Tutoring skills. Later, Parliament Tutoring, where I tutored online. Nowadays, I work as a Volunteer and follow up French online, which has got my French skills fresh and ready to be used.

"Paola is such a fun, caring and talented woman, making her a great tutor!

I have 15+ years of WSI swim instruction tips and tricks that fuel my creativity and joy for teaching. I also hold and maintain a CPR and First Aid cert. I am passionate and patient, and I have experience with special needs. I absolutely love beginners, and can teach all the way up through getting them to swim team or preparing for open water swim. I specialize in ages 6 years and up through active adults, and have even worked with seniors.

"My daughter who is neurodivergent has been swimming with Mariah for a couple of years. She is able to thread water in the deep end of the pool, swim on her back and is now learning freestyle.

Matthew Donahue is an actor and teacher who helps performers develop truthful, connected, and compelling work. He has taught Acting for Non-Majors at UNC-Chapel Hill, led university-level workshops, and taught through PlayMakers Repertory Company’s youth programs. He also works privately with actors preparing for BFA and MFA auditions. His teaching style is collaborative, practical, and individualized, drawing from his professional experience, MFA training, and Meisner study.

I have been playing baseball for more than 20 years and coaching youth teams for several seasons. Across six seasons as a head coach, my teams have a combined 49-9-1 record. I have also coached our town all star team as an assistant, sharing many of the responsibilities of the head coach. Parents and players regularly give positive feedback about the improvement they see and the environment I create. My approach is built on a simple idea: players learn best when they enjoy the game, feel supported, and are encouraged to grow. I want players to like playing for me and to know that I take their development seriously. I participate directly in drills by throwing, hitting, fielding, and demonstrating mechanics so they can see how each movement should look. In individual lessons, that means you get clear examples, detailed feedback, and drills tailored to how you move and what you want to improve. I do not believe in yelling at players or embarrassing anyone in front of the team. On the teams I coach, we win and lose together. If a specific mistake needs to be addressed, I handle it one on one and give clear, honest feedback. At the same time, I keep expectations clear and consistent. If effort or focus drops, we reset with conditioning or structured drills to get everyone locked back in. I teach that good baseball comes from strong mechanics, physical strength, discipline, and confidence. We run, do push ups, and talk through game situations so players learn to think the game, not just play it. I want players to enjoy baseball, understand why it is fun, and learn that being good at something is enjoyable even when the work gets tough. I am happy to work on any part of a player’s game, but I have a particular passion for pitching and love helping pitchers sharpen their mechanics, command, and mound presence. Whether you want to improve your pitching, throwing, hitting, or overall baseball IQ, I focus on clear instruction, repeatable fundamentals, and a mindset that helps you succeed on the field.

"As a parent, I couldn’t be more grateful for the positive influence Coach Alex has been both on and off the field. From day one, the coach created an environment that was fun, encouraging, and disciplined while helping the players grow not only as athletes but as individuals. On many occasions, the coach would stay after practice to work one-on-one with players on pitching and batting. That extra effort showed how much Coach Alex truly cares about each player’s development. I’m so grateful for the confidence and growth my child has experienced each season with Coach Alex!