In his 50-year career as a tennis coach, Carlos Goffi has become one of the world’s references in the training of athletes, teaching new techniques and raising the level of his players to the highest level.
His most famous pupil, who he met in his first class, is the American John McEnroe, one of the greatest tennis players in history, who spent 170 weeks as number 1 in the world and won 77 titles (7 of which were Grand Slam).
Born on November 10, 1952, in São Paulo, and son of Carlos Eduardo Magalhães Goffi and Ruth Cezar, Carlos started playing tennis at the age of 5 at the Tênis Clube de São Paulo, where his father was president.
After a successful youth career, representing Brazil in international tournaments, including the South American Championships, Orange Bowl and Wimbledon, he became one of the first athletes in the country to study at universities in the United States, combining sports. He defended Corpus Christi and Kansas universities.
At the age of 22, on the recommendation of his mentor, Australian Harry Hopman, he began his career as a coach at the Port Washington Tennis Academy in New York, where he became director of the junior program. In addition to John McEnroe, he coached other notables such as Peter Fleming and Mary Carillo.
When John entered the ATP circuit, Carlos continued to coach him in the following years, as well as his brother, Patrick.
In 1984, when John was already number 1 in the world, Carlos published his book “Tournament Tough”, a guide to youth tennis, with comments from McEnroe himself. The book was the first of its kind to emphasize game psychology over technique, and remains a reference work on the development of youth tennis to this day.
“He was a coach in the truest sense of the word — someone who believed in people, often before they believed in themselves. He had the rare gift of seeing what someone could become and then helping them get there,” says his daughter, Jordan Parker.
“This gift extended far beyond the tennis court, shaping not only champions, but generations of coaches, parents and players who carried his methodology and spirit into their own lives. His influence, in his discreet way, reached millions”, added his son Josh Goffi, who was also a professional tennis player and defended Brazil in an edition of the Davis Cup.
Carlos has developed and taught his Tournament Tough methodology for over 40 years in camps, books, and digital courses. He also published Junior Tennis magazine and led a national tour of workshops for parents and players. He regularly returned to Brazil for clinics and workshops alongside his longtime friends Thomaz Koch and Marcelo Meyer.
Carlos Eduardo Goffi Jr. died on May 11, aged 73, in Blythewood, South Carolina (USA).
He is survived by his wife, Susan Williams Goffi; his sons Jordan Parker and Josh Goffi, his granddaughters Eliana and Clara, his mother, Ruth, his sister, Marcia; his first wife and mother of his children, Jeanne Veatch Bragdon; and a large family in Brazil.
coluna.obituario@grupofolha.com.br
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