Minnesota Tennis Coach Judy Long Was Honored with the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award
Published: September 11, 2026.
SAINT PAUL, MN: A longtime Minnesota tennis instructor whose work has focused on making the sport more accessible and welcoming is receiving national recognition for her efforts both on and off the court.
Judy Long, a tennis instructor and adult program coordinator at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center in St. Paul, has been selected as USTA Northern's honoree for the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award. The recognition honors individuals who exemplify the spirit of tennis legend Billie Jean King through their commitment to advancing equality, inclusion, and opportunity through the sport. Long was among 16 grassroots tennis leaders representing USTA sections from across the country recognized during the fourth annual Champions of Equality event at the 2026 US Open in New York.
Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and entrepreneur Hoda Kotb was also honored with the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award during the event, which celebrated people working to advance equality both within tennis and in their communities. The United States Tennis Association described the event as highlighting those who are "leading the fight for equality on and off the court."
For Long, the national recognition follows more than two decades of involvement with the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center and years of work connecting people with tennis, education, and mentorship.
More Than Two Decades at Fred Wells
Long's connection with Fred Wells dates back to the organization's early years. According to a profile previously published by the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center on Long’s 20th Anniversary, Long became familiar with the organization through a free Saturday tennis program in 2002. Her children participated in the program while Long, who was working as a teacher at the time, often used the opportunity to prepare for her classes.
Long had previously taught in Minneapolis schools and coached volleyball at Powderhorn Park. Her experience working with young people eventually caught the attention of coach Gary Clark, who encouraged her to apply for a position at Fred Wells. She was hired in December 2004 as the organization worked to further develop the educational component accompanying its tennis programs.
One of Long's early efforts involved working with students from Sheridan Global Arts School. Students participated in life-skills activities before heading onto the tennis courts, combining education and personal development with an introduction to the sport. The goal went beyond simply teaching children how to play tennis. The program also gave coaches and staff a chance to build relationships with young people that could continue as they progressed through school.
Long has emphasized the importance of building those relationships early, particularly before students reach middle school, when keeping young people consistently involved in extracurricular programming can become more challenging.
Those connections could also expand beyond individual participants, with children introducing younger siblings, friends, and other family members to Fred Wells programs.
Expanding Access to the Sport
Making tennis accessible has been a significant part of the work at Fred Wells, particularly for young people who may otherwise encounter financial, transportation or other barriers to participating in the sport. Transportation was among those challenges.
Over the years, Long recalled staff and volunteers finding ways to transport children to and from programming by bus and van. Those challenges became even more complicated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when capacity restrictions limited how many children could travel together. Finding ways around those barriers has remained part of the organization's larger mission.
The Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center brings together people of different ages, abilities, and backgrounds through tennis while providing educational and developmental opportunities for young people. Its TennisWorks outreach programming partners with schools and community organizations to introduce children to tennis while helping participants develop social-emotional and personal skills.
Long continues that work today as a tennis instructor and adult program coordinator, helping extend the organization's mission to players beyond its youth programming. Her approach to coaching has also been shaped by her background as an educator. Long has previously spoken about the importance of developing relationships before focusing solely on instruction, whether in a classroom or on a tennis court. When students know an instructor cares about them and their success, she has said, they can become more receptive to learning. Her own experiences also influenced that philosophy.
Long recalled that attending college was not necessarily expected of her while growing up. A high school counselor encouraged her to pursue higher education and helped her obtain a significant scholarship to Knox College. That experience stayed with Long as she later found herself in a position to encourage young people to pursue opportunities of their own.
Honored on One of Tennis' Biggest Stages
Long's commitment to expanding opportunity and building relationships through tennis closely aligns with the purpose of the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award. The award was created in 2023 as the US Open commemorated the 50th anniversary of its decision to award equal prize money to men and women.
The recognition celebrates people who have worked to advance equality, opportunity and representation in tennis and beyond. Those selected from individual USTA sections are recognized for carrying those principles into their own communities, making Long's selection both a national honor and recognition of work taking place locally in Minnesota.
The Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center celebrated Long's selection in a Facebook post, saying the people chosen for the award "exemplify the spirit of Billie Jean King and are devoted to advancing inclusivity through tennis."
"A HUGE congratulations to Coach Judy Long for being USTA Northern's honoree for the Billie Jean King Champions of Equity Award!" the organization wrote. "We couldn't be more proud of Coach Judy!"
The recognition places Long among a nationwide group of tennis leaders whose impact extends beyond wins, losses, and what happens during a match. For Long, it also recognizes more than two decades spent working with players in Minnesota.
While her responsibilities at Fred Wells have evolved over the years, from helping develop educational programming for young people to her current work as a tennis instructor and adult program coordinator, the common thread has remained using tennis to connect people, build relationships, and open doors. Long has previously pointed to former participants who have gone on to graduate from college, serve in the military, and reach other significant milestones as examples of the broader impact that sustained mentorship can have.
Now, more than 20 years after joining Fred Wells, that work is being recognized on the national stage with an award named for one of the most influential advocates for equality in sports. Congratulations, Coach Judy Long!
Photo Credit: Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center
