Directors of Instruction
KEVIN SMELTZ
DIRECTOR OF GOLF
Kevin Smeltz, our Top 100 Golf Magazine Director of Golf, oversees all of the instructional programs and is dedicated to hiring and training an elite group of coaches that supports the PGA of America Academies. Kevin, along with the PGA, has fined tuned the training curriculum for our programs and fit them to best suit the youth golfers' needs in China.
Working with some of the best in the game including Nick Price, Charles Howell III, and Na Yeon Choi, Kevin knows what it takes to produce a winner. Although he still works with several professional tour players, Kevin’s heart is in junior golf.
While under his instruction, Kevin’s students have achieved 22 wins on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and Champions Tour. In addition to that, he has also coached many top amateurs and top-ranked juniors in the world rankings. Kevin has taught two U.S. Walker Cup team members, two No. 1-ranked college players, a No. 2-ranked college player, and many top-ranked juniors. Kevin has been awarded many accolades including being voted one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers (2012-Present) and regularly contributing to golf magazines around the world.
BOB PIERCE
DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL
Coach Bob began his coaching career over 20 years ago as a middle school basketball coach in the US. Since that time he has coached high schoolers, university students, and professional athletes all over the world. His passion is for developing basketball players, young and old. Coach Bob’s extensive professional coaching experience includes Head Coach of Shenzhen’s CBA feeder team, Xin Sheng Wei Basketball, three years as Head Coach in Japan’s professional BJ-League and a stint as an Assistant Coach with the Japanese Senior National Team. Coach Bob is Five-Star Sports’ Director of Instruction and has headed up the development of our unique curriculum and coach’s training.
Top Credentials:
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Five-Star Sports’ Director of Instruction
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Asia Scout for Miami Heat
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Asia scout for Cleveland cavaliers
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Former Assistant Coach of Japan National Men's Team
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Former Assistant Coach of China National Men’s U18 Youth Team
NICOLO BANDIERA
DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL
Nicolo Bandiera, our Italian Director of Instruction, brings with him many years of Football experience, both as a player and as a coach. He is passionate about youth football and has coached students from primary school all the way to university club team. Mr. Bandiera has been coaching youth Football in China for the last 8 years was formerly a Head Coach at a number of academies in Xiamen.
Mr. Bandiera is fluent in Putonghua, with a HSK Level 5 Certification
JAMES LENTON
DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION - BEIJING
James Lenton is a distinguished Master Performance Coach and currently serves as the Director of Tennis at the ATP Official Development Centre in Beijing. Notably, he holds the esteemed LTA Level 5 coaching qualification, a distinction achieved by very few coaches globally.
James has served as the personal coach to multiple ATP and WTA professionals, as well as National and International Junior Champions and his experience includes global travel and management for players in events such as Grand Slam, WTA, ATP, Tennis Europe, and ITF World Junior Tours. He coached members of Great Britain’s Davis Cup and Bille Jean King Cup teams.
James has developed over 25 children to Grand Slam level, including a Wimbledon Winner and three junior Grand Slam semi-finalists. Notable players include James Ward (ATP no.89), Laura Robson (WTA no.27), Sam Smith (WTA no.49), Elena Baltacha (WTA no.49), Ann Keothavong (WTA no.48), Ed Corrie (ATP no.215), Chris Wilkinson (ATP no.114). James was the hitting partner for Monica Seles when she held the world no.1 ranking.
