Fresh off his most successful season at Concordia, John Norton begins his fifth year as head coach of the men's and women's programs that he helped reestablish in 2006 after a 15-year absence.

Norton, recently promoted to Associate Professor of English at Concordia, led the 2009 women's team to the NAIA National Championships Semifinals, while his men's team advanced to the quarterfinal round for the second consecutive campaign.

Norton was named the NAIA and Golden State Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2009, as nine of his athletes landed on the NAIA All-American list.

In 1994, he was awarded the U.S. Professional Tennis Association's highest rating as a tennis instructor. That year he started the Marbella Tennis Academy at the Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano.

In 1998, he founded Norton Tennis, a tennis management company that runs seasonal tennis camps and after-school tennis programs. Norton Tennis has recently developed an extensive program for Ladera Ranch, including private instruction, after-school programs and seasonal camps.

Norton has worked for 13 years as a professional tennis instructor, and previously served as the varsity coach at St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano from 1998-2000.

As a player, Norton competed at GSAC opponent Point Loma Nazarene, where he was named team MVP as a junior. He has also played professionally for 12 years and was ranked as high as No. 21 in the Men's Open Division of the Southern California Circuit in 1995.

Norton earned his bachelor's from Point Loma in applied communications, graduating in 1993, and went on to earn a master's in English at Cal State Fullerton in 2000.

Norton earned his Ph.D. in English from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, successfully defending his thesis in Jan. 2008.

Norton and his wife, Erica, live in Ladera Ranch with their children Jack (8) and Naomi (5).