Founded by Michael Parks, Father & Coach to WTA Pro Alycia Parks

The dream is real.
So is the plan.

Michael Parks took his daughter Alycia all the way to the WTA Tour — with zero tennis background, next to no money, and a plan he built from scratch. Along the way, he built direct relationships with college recruiting scouts. Whether your goal is a scholarship, a Division One roster spot, or the pro tour, he'll help you get on the radar and get there faster.

NO SPONSORSHIP. NO ACADEMY BUDGET. NO EXCUSE. — IT'S POSSIBLE WITHOUT DEEP POCKETS.

7

Age it all began — zero tennis background

129mph

Tour-recognized fastest-serve tie

40

Career-high WTA singles ranking

15

Professional titles won — singles & doubles

The Founder

Meet the Man Who Built a Tour Pro From Scratch

No tennis résumé. No inside connections. No big budget behind them. Just a former pro basketball player who refused to accept "wait and see" for his daughter's future — and out-worked everyone who doubted them both.

Now he's in your corner. Michael works directly with driven players and the parents backing them, turning hard-won lessons into a plan that actually moves the needle.

Two Ways to Get in the Fight

Speaking & Consulting.

01 — For Organizations

Speaking Engagements

Michael brings the fire to your academy, club, school, or association — real talk that turns hesitant parents and unmotivated players into believers.

02 — For Families

Private Consulting

Stop guessing. Get a straight-shooting game plan for recruiting, coach selection, and direct relationships with college scouts — backed by expert command of the WTA ranking system and tournament scheduling — whether the goal is a scholarship, a Division One roster spot, or the pros.

"He took an athlete's instinct, no tennis background, and a home court — and built a system that reached the WTA Tour."

The Parks Family Story — as covered by WTA & national tennis media

About The Founder

Michael Parks

No tennis background. No shortcuts. No big budget. Just a father who refused to let "maybe" decide his daughter's future — and built the system to prove it.

Michael Parks is a former professional basketball player with no formal tennis background — and that's exactly why parents trust him. When his daughter Alycia showed a flash of something special on a neighborhood court, he didn't hand her off to expensive academies he couldn't afford. He grabbed a notebook, studied every match he could find, broke down technique frame by frame, and built a development plan on a shoestring budget — proof that resourcefulness can outwork a big bank account.

That relentless, hands-on plan — built with very few resources and even less financial cushion — took Alycia from her first racquet at age seven, through a bold relocation for real training, to a nationally ranked junior career, and eventually the WTA Tour. She built her foundation with ITF titles before climbing all the way to 15 professional titles overall — singles and doubles combined — including a WTA 1000 doubles crown in Cincinnati, a WTA Tour singles title, and a career-high ranking inside the world's top 40. Every step, every setback, every breakthrough: Michael was in her corner, coordinating with academies and coaches while staying the one true constant.

Now he's bringing that same fire — and the same "make it work with what you have" mindset — directly to parents and players who refuse to settle for "we'll see." Along the way, Michael has built direct relationships with college recruiting scouts — connections that help players who are doing the work actually get seen. Recruiting strategy, training loads, mental toughness, ranking-system strategy and tournament scheduling built to climb efficiently toward No. 1, the tough family calls that make or break a career — Michael turns hard-earned experience into a plan your family can actually run, no matter the goal or the budget.

10

Age of relocation for training

2017

Turned professional

129mph

Tour-recognized serve speed

The Journey

Every mile earned.

~2007

First racquet, age seven — the spark

Alycia's talent lights up on a neighborhood court. Michael grabs a notebook and starts studying technique on his own — no coaching background required.

~2010

The bold move

The family uproots for Florida, chasing better facilities and real competition. No hesitation — just commitment.

2017

Going all in

Alycia turns down college scholarship offers and bets on herself, going pro full-time.

2021

The world takes notice

She ties a tour-recognized fastest-serve mark at the US Open — announcing her arrival on the biggest stage in the sport.

2023

The breakthrough

A first WTA Tour title in Lyon, and a career-high ranking inside the world's top 40. The plan works.

Today

Your turn

Michael brings that exact framework to families ready to fight for the next level, through Go Beyond the Parks.

Hear It From Michael

Watch the story.

On-Camera

Michael sits down to talk through the journey, the mindset, and what he tells families weighing the same road.

Every family's path looks different. The goal isn't to copy one story — it's to build the version that fits yours.

Michael Parks, Founder

For Academies, Schools & Associations

Light Up Your Room

Michael brings raw, real-world energy to academies, clubs, high school and college programs, and parent associations — the unfiltered truth about what it actually takes to go pro, with a Division One roster spot as the floor, not the ceiling. Your players leave hungrier. Your parents leave believers.

Formats

Any room. Full energy.

Keynote

Keynote & Panels

A high-energy signature talk that stops a room cold — built for conferences, banquets, and association meetings.

45–90 min

Workshop

Academy & Club Workshops

Hands-on, in-the-trenches sessions mixing hard truths with real player and parent Q&A.

Half / full day

Parent Night

Parent Education Nights

The evening that turns anxious sideline parents into confident, focused advocates for their kid.

60–75 min

Coach Dev

Coach Development

Working sessions that sharpen how your coaching staff communicates with driven families.

By request

Signature Talks

Six talks that hit different.

Talk 01

Coaching Without a Playbook

Proof that a parent with zero tennis background can still build a fierce, technically sound competitor — if they're willing to do the work.

Talk 02

The Real Road to Division One

The unfiltered truth about what recruiters actually look for — and the timeline mistake that quietly kills great players' chances.

Talk 03

Parenting the Competitor

How to keep your young athlete's fire burning through brutal losses, frustrating plateaus, and grinding travel tennis.

Talk 04

From Junior Circuit to Tour

What really changes — physically, mentally, financially — the moment a player decides to turn pro.

Talk 05

Choosing the Right Coach

A father's unfiltered take on coach transitions, and the courage it takes to walk away from a relationship that isn't working.

Talk 06

Built at Home

The scrappy, low-cost training habits that build champion fundamentals long before academy-level coaching ever enters the picture.

Who Books Michael

Rooms he lights up.

Tennis Academies

Staff and player-family workshops.

HS & College Programs

Team talks and recruiting sessions.

Parent Associations

Club-wide education evenings.

Youth Sports Conferences

Keynotes and panel appearances.

Your players are waiting for someone to tell them the truth. Let Michael bring it.

For Parents & Players

Get a Real Game Plan

Serious about the next level? Stop guessing and start moving. One-on-one guidance for parents and players chasing a scholarship, a Division One roster spot, or the WTA/ATP Tour — navigating junior rankings, recruiting timelines, coach selection, and the balance between competitive tennis and everything else in a young athlete's life.

The Insider Edge

Mastering the ranking game.

Ranking Strategy

The WTA Points System, Decoded

The WTA ranking system rewards more than just winning — it rewards when and where you play. Michael has hands-on expertise navigating the ranking system, helping families understand exactly what it takes to climb, level by level, toward the No. 1 goal.

Tournament Scheduling

A Calendar Built to Climb

Not all tournaments are created equal. Michael builds tournament schedules that maximize ranking points earned per event, helping players climb faster and more efficiently instead of grinding through a random calendar.

Packages

Pick your level of commitment.

Single Session

Development Plan Review

$150one-time

One focused session, straight talk on exactly where your player stands and what to attack next.

Multi-Session

Recruiting & D1 Roadmap

$750package

A real strategy — rankings, outreach timing, and target schools — built to put your player on a coach's radar, backed by Michael's direct scout relationships.

Monthly

Ongoing Family Advising

$250per month

A partner in your corner all season long — adjusting the plan as the competition, and the stakes, get bigger.

Custom

Junior-to-Pro Transition

From $1,500custom

For families ready to weigh the biggest leap of all — from juniors or college onto the professional tour.

The Framework

The climb, mapped out.

Ages 5–8

Discovery

Spotting the real spark — the interest and coordination worth building a future around.

Ages 8–12

Foundation

Locking in technique that lasts, and knowing exactly when relocation or academy training is worth the leap.

Ages 12–15

Competitive Rise

Attacking the junior circuit with a real strategy — while protecting the fire from early burnout.

Ages 15–18

The Recruiting Path

Building the résumé that actually gets a college coach's attention — timed to land a Division One roster spot.

18+

Going Pro

For the families brave enough to weigh the biggest leap — from college or juniors onto the professional tour.

Good to Know

Consulting FAQ.

Do we need a big budget or a fancy academy to make this work?

No. Michael built Alycia's entire foundation without sponsorships or an academy budget — just a clear plan and consistent work. Consulting is built the same way: practical, resourceful strategy that doesn't assume deep pockets.

My goal is just a college scholarship, not the pros — is this still for us?

Absolutely. Most families start here. Michael has direct relationships with college recruiting scouts and works with plenty of players whose goal is simply getting seen and landing a scholarship — the pro conversation only comes up if and when it makes sense for you.

Is consulting in-person or virtual?

Both — most ongoing advising happens over video call, with in-person sessions available for local families near Port St. Lucie, FL.

What ages do you work with?

Families with players roughly age 6 through college-transition age, and adult players considering a professional path.

Do you replace our current coach?

No — consulting works alongside your existing coaching relationship, focused on strategy, timing, and family decisions rather than on-court instruction.

How is pricing determined?

Pricing depends on package and session cadence — reach out and we'll follow up with current rates.

Get In Touch

Ready to make your move?

Tell us a bit about your organization or family, and whether you're reaching out about a speaking engagement, private consulting, or both. Michael's team typically replies within 2–3 business days — let's get the ball rolling.

Emailcontact@gobeyondtheparks.com

Phone(561) 975-9327

Based InPort St. Lucie, Florida