Coaching Staff

Chris Godby - Head Coach, Boys and Girls

Coach Godby began his career as a volunteer assistant at Pulaski County High and Somerset High in the mid-1990s.  He became the Russell County Laker Boys Tennis coach in 1997.  He led the team to multiple top-5 regional finishes including the runner-up title in 2004.  His doubles teams were regional champions in 2004 and runners-up in 2005 and 2006.  He logged three consecutive state tournament appearances, including the school's first state tournament match win, before retiring from coaching at the end of the 2006 season.  After a 20-year break, he has returned to coach the Laker boys--and now also girls--at their new 6-court facility at the First National Bank Athletic Complex.  As a life-long tennis advocate, he is also the chairman of the Central KY Tennis Series (CKTS) and co-host/producer of the award-winning tennis podcast "Game Set Match Kentucky!"  He resides in Russell Springs with "Mrs. Coach" Laura and their teenage kids Carson and Calli.

 Nathan McQueary - Assistant Coach

Coach McQueary started playing tennis in 2019 as a high school senior at Russell County. He went on to play tennis for Campbellsville University on both JV and Varsity squads. He still currently plays in USTA Tournaments, CKTS Tournaments, and Local Events. This is Coach McQueary’s fourth year helping out with Russell County Laker Tennis. Coach McQueary’s coaching style emphasizes effort, discipline, and having fun while developing skills. He aims to help each player reach their full potential.

 Tyler Matney - Assistant Coach

Coach Matney began his tennis journey as a 7th-grader, when he made the varsity squad as #5 at RCHS right away.  For the next 5 years, he would be the #1 singles player on the team through the end of his senior year.  Through all 6 years he boasted a singles record of 68 wins and only 27 losses.  For 5 consecutive years he made it to the 4th round in the regional tournament, including reaching the semifinals as a junior.  He was seeded in the tournament for 5 years in a row, and as high as #3.  He went on to play a year of Varsity Tennis at Lindsey Wilson.  We are proud to have Tyler back with Laker Tennis as an assistant coach.  He and his wife Christin have 3 children and reside in Russell Springs.

 Bill Flickinger - Volunteer Assistant Coach

"Coach Bill" has been a tennis Player for over 56 years.  He played singles (#5) and doubles (#3) in high school in Champaign, IL.  He has been captain for multiple USTA mens and mixed teams, and is still an active participant in local and USTA tournaments and leagues.  Bill has provided free lessons and clinics in the communities where he has lived in Illinois, Georgia, and Kentucky.  We are proud to have him as a volunteer assistant on the staff.

 Deron Polston - Volunteer Assistant Coach

Coach Polston first started playing recreational tennis at the age of 21 for a few years, and then picked it up again for good in 2014.  He now plays various leagues, teams, and tournaments regularly.  He was the Head Coach of the Laker Tennis programs in 2017 and 2018, and was Assistant Coach for the Lakers in 2015 and 2016 and again from 2019 through 2024.  He has been a part-time Volunteer Assistant Coach since then, and Laker Tennis is very honored to have him as part of the family.  

 Susan Hadley - Volunteer Assistant Coach

"Coach Susan" began playing tennis at the age of 8 and continued through high school at Somerset High, where as a junior she was the KHSAA 12th Region girls’ singles runner-up and as a senior was the KHSAA 12th Region girls’ doubles champion.  She played in the Open division of the Central Kentucky Tennis Series from 2001 through 2024 where she won multiple championships in singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.  She played USTA team tennis from 2015 until 2021. In 2019, she was named the USTA Kentucky Adult Female Player of the Year.  She has been the head tennis coach at Somerset High School and has been an assistant coach previously at Russell County High School.  Her expertise is highly valued here at Laker Tennis.