BRANDON Rowe wants to get the people of Murwillumbah hungry to play tennis again.

Returning a hunger for tennis, and also creating an improved junior program, are goals he has set himself as he takes on the role as Murwillumbah Tennis Club's new head coach.

The club has a strong group of junior players, thanks to former head coach Peter Ohl and assistant coach Carolyn Tett, and Rowe is looking forward to putting his own stamp on the job.

“The club I was at had a very structured program for the kids to progress through, but it is a bit looser here,” Rowe said.

“I want to make it a little more professional. (Previous coaches) did a great job, but I want to build that structure a bit more, and get everyone fired up to play some tennis.”

The professional tennis coach has a strong focus on junior development and believes success as a coach comes from having a strong knowledge of and passion for the game.

“I have always strived to show a real interest in the development of any individual or group I am working with,” Rowe said.

It is the New Zealander's second stint with the club, having been the coach for a six-year period between 1992 and 1998.

Rowe married his wife Sachi on the Tweed and they wanted to bring their two children back to the Far North Coast for family reasons.

He had already booked flights to visit Australia, and was online looking for jobs, when he saw a New South Wales tennis coach job advertised. Sure enough, it was at Murwillumbah.

“It really was meant to be,” Rowe said. “I have a couple of mates who run academies up the coast and I had planned to come over and see them, then I saw the job the day before applications closed and put in my CV. It was quite bizarre, actually.”

Rowe's arrival will make this year's club championships a must-see event, with Ohl trying to retain his title and win a 12th championship, and Rowe trying to regain the title he held in 1997 and 1998.

The championships start with the mixed doubles on July 31, before doubles on August 7 and singles on August 14.