Glenn Tepper Inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame

The Table Tennis Australia (TTA) Hall of Fame was established to recognise the outstanding achievements of Australia’s truly great players, coaches, officials and administrators across the course of history and has since inducted 25 people to the list.

Today, TTA is excited to announce Glenn Tepper is one of the inaugural Administrators to be inducted in the TTA Hall of Fame. 

Hailing from Murtoa, Victoria, Tepper came from humble beginnings in the sport, where he played on a homemade table in his garage with his siblings, under the guidance of his father Merv Tepper. From 1982 – 1991, Tepper wore the green and gold as a player, but it is work as a distinguished administrator that is his defining legacy to the sport.

Tepper began his career at TTA as National Coaching Director where he set up the TTA Coach Accreditation System. He conducted National Training Camps and Talent Identification programs that saw many players become National Team representatives, with some going on to win international medals.

Tepper then went on to work for ITTF Oceania, as the Oceania Development Officer where he developed and executed a pilot program that was so successful, it became a precursor to it being replicated worldwide. The program was recognised as the best development program of all sports by the Oceania National Olympic Committees.

For 20 years, Tepper worked for the ITTF. Following on from his Oceania Development Officer role, Tepper was promoted to ITTF Development Director, before being promoted again to ITTF Deputy CEO for eight years. 

His great achievements there were setting up the worldwide development program, a global coach accreditation structure and to have every country on earth as a member. He said at the time, that the last task was “more of a dream than a realistic goal but I took this very seriously and slowly added a few countries each year, providing technical equipment and support.”

TTA Chief Executive Officer Scott Houston said Tepper’s induction was due recognition for his decorated career.

“Glenn has been an outstanding administrator who has displayed passion and an incredible work ethic for our sport and very much deserves this induction today,” said Houston.

“On a personal note too, Glenn was my manager when I started my working career as Oceania Development Officer. He provided me with the skills, knowledge and experience that benefited my career and made a positive and lasting impression.”

Houston also commented on the Tepper family creating history through this induction.

“Glenn’s sister Kerri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 as an athlete, making this a historic occasion. It’s the first time multiple people from the same family have become TTA Hall of Fame Members.

“Congratulations again Glenn, you are most worthy of being an inductee.”

Commenting on his induction and his long history in the sport, Tepper said:
“It’s a great honour to be inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame. My journey was a long and interesting one starting on a homemade table in the garage of our house, with my father Merv as coach,” he said.

“Dad was a reasonable table tennis player who transferred his knowledge of tennis, successfully coaching his four children to National Team level from a small town of 1,000 people four hours from Melbourne.

“This led to National Representation for 10 years, while studying a Bachelor of Education specialising in Physical Education. My background naturally led me to coaching taking on the National Junior Program for nearly 10 years, and leading to be Assistant National Coach to Zhou Lan Sun while coaching international teams.

“With the combination of skills, this naturally led to administration where I achieved so much for the sport we all love. I made friends of different language, race, religion and culture throughout the world through Table Tennis.

“My father was the driving force from the beginning while at TTA level, Ron Moule and Zhou Lan Sun provided great guidance and education. At ITTF level I was fortunate to have Adham Sharara  as a great mentor for over 20 years, but thanks must go to all the players, coaches, administrators and staff I’ve worked with over the years, including several current Australian officials including Scott Houston and Craig Hayes. 

“Thank you TTA for this great honour.“

Tepper’s full list of achievements in Table Tennis:

INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION:

- ITTF Staff Member 1999 – 2018:

1. ITTF-Oceania Development Officer (1999 – 2000)
2. ITTF Development Director (2001 – 2010)
3. ITTF Deputy CEO (2011 – 2018)

• Responsible for four key initiatives:

1. Setting up a worldwide ITTF Development Program. Setup from scratch to become a multi-award-winning program including: Peace and Sport Awards, Beyond Sport Awards, Sport Accord Spirit of Sport Awards, 360 Sports Marketing Making a Difference Awards, and FICTS – Federation Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs Sports Movies and TV Awards. The program had 10 fulltime staff, 100 part-time course conductors and A$3 million budget. Recognised as one of the best Development Programs by the International Olympic Committee and ASOIF [Association of Summer Olympic International Federations]. Over 2000 courses were held worldwide. Over 1,400 equipment packages were distributed worldwide.
2. To set up an ITTF Coach Accreditation System. Setup from scratch a worldwide 4- level ITTF Coach Accreditation System, in over 10 languages, plus training and mentoring course conductors. Author of the ITTF Level 1 Coaching Manual. Over 1,500 courses have been presented and 7,000 coaches have been accredited worldwide.
3. To have every country on earth as a member of ITTF. In 2017 ITTF became the first sport to have every country in the world as a member, which eventuated after 20 years work on this initiative. The aim was to add a small number of new countries per year to ensure their administrators, coaches, umpires and referees could be trained sufficiently to ensure sustainability. There are 226 ITTF members, which is more than any other sport and even more than IOC.
4. Set up ITTF CSR [Corporate Social Responsibility] Program. Using table tennis as a vehicle for social change, projects were established with organisations including UNHCR [United Nations High Commission for Refugees], Peace and Sport, Generations for Peace, IPC [International Paralympic Committee], and Save the Children, plus many nationally based projects.

• Staff Recruiting, Training and Mentorship: Responsible for recruiting, training and mentoring all ITTF Development and ITTF Education and Training Staff over 20 years, including many people who have gone on to hold prominent roles. Such people include the ITTF CEO Steve Dainton, ITTF CFO Michael Brown, ITTF High Performance and Development Director Polona Cehovin, ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech, ITTF Education Director Ramon Ortega Montes, and TTA CEO Scott Houston.
• ITTF Executive Committee: Attended all ITTF Executive Committee Meetings 2001-2017.
• ITTF Board of Directors: Attended all ITTF Board of Directors Meetings 2001-2017.
• ITTF AGM: Attended all ITTF AGM’s 1999-2019.
• Ping Pong Diplomacy 40th Anniversary: The Peace and Sport Cup was organised to celebrate the anniversary, bringing together countries in conflict as a doubles team while bringing country ambassadors together in a round table including North Korea and South Korea, USA and Iran, plus India and Pakistan.
• Asia Table tennis Union Projects Director 2019-current: Setting, managing and implementing the ATTU “Aim for the Stars” Project with a US$500,000 budget.

INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION – OCEANIA:

- Oceania Table Tennis Development Officer:

1. Part-time (1994 – 1998)
2. Full-time (1999 – 2000)

• In 1999 setup the Oceania Development Program from scratch as a pilot program for ITTF. After 2 years the program was extremely successful, which led to it being replicated in all continents worldwide
• Recognised by ONOC [Oceania National Olympic Committees] as the best Development Program among all sports.
• Worked together with ASP2000 [Australia South Pacific 2000] and ONOC in 1998-1999 to assist in furthering IOC [International Olympic Committee] applications for Olympic status for Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and East Timor by working with key government and sports bodies.

TABLE TENNIS AUSTRALIA:

- National Coaching Director (1996 – 1999):

1. Set up TTA Coach Accreditation System.
2. Co-author of TOPS-Table Tennis in Schools Program.
3. Travelled to 4 states and territories annually on a rotating basis leading coach education, junior training camps and providing administrative support.
4. Organise all aspects of the Talent Identification and National Junior Camps Program.
5. Coach Education including producing Coaching Newsletters and running Coaching Seminars.
6. Produced and updated the National Coaching Plan.

• Between 1991 – 1998: Organised and led Australian Table Tennis Junior Training Camps during 4 school holidays each year. This played a part in producing many players who went on to represent Australia at junior and senior level including: Peri Campbell-Innes, Claire Campbell-Innes, May Cho, Kerry Bungey, Craig Hayes, Simon Gerada, and Trevor Brown.

OTHER INFORMATION:
Although not forming part of this induction into the TTA Hall of Fame as an Administrator, it is noted that Glenn enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an athlete and coach, with key achievements including:

• Australian Table Tennis Men’s Team Captain at: 2 x World Championships 1993 and 1995, Asian Championships 1994, and 2 x Commonwealth Championships in 1994 and 1995.
• Australia Men’s Team (1982 – 1991) including 3 x World Championships 1983, 1985 and 1989, 3 x Asian Championships 1982, 1984 and 1988, 4 x Commonwealth Championships 1983, 1985, 1989 and 1991, and 3 x Oceania Championships 1982, 1986 and 1991.
• Highest rankings achieved: World – 168, Commonwealth – 8, Oceania – 2, Australia – 3, and Victoria – 1.
• Titles won: 2 x Oceania Men’s Doubles, Oceania Teams Champion, 3 x Australian Mixed Doubles Champion, 6 x Australian Teams Champion, Victorian Open Singles Champion, South Australian Open Singles Champion.
• Victorian representative (1973 – 1991): U14, U16, U18, U21, Senior Teams, including multiple state titles at each level.
• Member of Murtoa and Horsham Table Tennis Associations (1968 – 1978).