The Mentors Who Shaped a Champion: Billie Jean King’s Coaching and Guidance Network

Billie Jean King is widely celebrated as one of the most transformative figures in sports history, but her path to becoming a champion was never a solitary effort. Behind her 39 Grand Slam titles and her landmark victory in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” stood a network of coaches, mentors, and advisors who shaped her game, her mindset, and her activism. Understanding the story of Billie Jean King’s relationships with her mentors offers a deeper look into how greatness is cultivated—and how a single athlete can change the world.

While King’s talent was undeniable from a young age, her development was accelerated by the guidance of people who believed in her potential. Her coaches taught her technical skills, but her mentors—both on and off the court—gave her the courage to challenge the status quo. This article explores the key individuals who helped mold King into the icon she is today, examining how each relationship contributed to her rise and her enduring legacy.

Early Influences: The First Coaches Who Saw Her Fire

Billie Jean King (née Moffitt) grew up in a working-class family in Long Beach, California. Her first exposure to tennis came at the age of 11 when she walked onto a public court and hit a few balls. Recognizing her natural athleticism, her parents signed her up for lessons at the local park. Her first formal coach was Alice Marble, a former world No. 1 and four-time U.S. champion who had blazed trails of her own in the 1930s and 1940s. Marble’s mentorship was brief but catalyzed King’s confidence. Marble emphasized aggressive serve-and-volley play, a style that King would later make famous.

As a teenager, King came under the tutelage of Jack Kramer, a former Wimbledon champion and a powerful figure in tennis politics. Kramer recognized King’s raw energy and helped her develop the mental toughness required for high-level competition. He drilled her on footwork and shot selection, but more importantly, he instilled a belief that she could compete with anyone. Kramer’s influence extended beyond technique—he taught King to think strategically about the flow of a match, a skill that would serve her well in the era when women’s tennis was often dismissed as less exciting than the men’s game.

Another early mentor was Billie Jean’s own father, Bill Moffitt, a firefighter and former college athlete. While not a tennis coach per se, he pushed her to be physically tough and mentally resilient. He often told her, “If you want something, you have to work for it—harder than anyone else.” That work ethic became the bedrock of her training philosophy.

Larry King: The Coach Who Guided Her to the Top

The most prominent coaching relationship of Billie Jean King’s career was with Larry King—not to be confused with the talk show host. Larry King (no relation) was her coach during the peak of her competitive years, from the late 1960s through the early 1970s. He was a former tennis player and a savvy strategist who understood the nuances of the women’s game. Under his guidance, King won 13 of her 20 Wimbledon titles (both singles and doubles), including four of her six singles titles at the All England Club.

Larry King’s coaching philosophy revolved around three pillars: discipline, strategic adaptability, and emotional control. He encouraged Billie Jean to vary her serve placement, to attack the net relentlessly, and to never show frustration to her opponents. He also helped her refine her footwork so she could cover the court more efficiently, a critical advantage against taller, more powerful players like Margaret Court.

One of the most famous examples of their collaboration was the 1972 US Open final against Court. Court was the dominant force, but King, coached by Larry, executed a game plan that neutralized Court’s power by forcing her to hit extra balls. King won 6–3, 7–5, a victory that cemented her as the world’s No. 1. Larry King’s role was integral in that victory, and Billie Jean often credited him with teaching her how to win matches she might otherwise have lost.

However, their relationship was not without tension. As Billie Jean became more politically active, Larry King sometimes disagreed with her off-court focus. He wanted her to concentrate solely on tennis, but she saw the court as a platform for broader change. This philosophical divergence eventually led to a parting of ways, but Billie Jean never diminished his impact on her career. In her memoir All In, she wrote: “Larry gave me the technical foundation to become a champion. Everything I built on that court started with the hours he spent drilling me on fundamentals.”

Frank Brennan: The Coach Who Refined Her Game

After Larry King, Billie Jean worked with Frank Brennan, a respected Australian coach known for his work with top players. Brennan was a no-nonsense figure who focused on biomechanics and shot consistency. He helped King adjust her serve to reduce stress on her knee, which had become a chronic issue. He also worked on her return of serve, turning it into one of the most aggressive weapons in the women’s game.

Brennan’s influence was most visible in King’s later career, particularly during her comeback in the early 1980s when she was in her late 30s. He helped her modernize her game to keep pace with younger players like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. King later said that Brennan taught her that “you never stop learning how to hit a tennis ball.”

Frank Brennan’s approach was less about grand strategy and more about incremental improvements. He drilled King on split-step timing, on taking the ball on the rise, and on using her body weight to generate power on groundstrokes. Those details extended her prime by several years.

Mentors Beyond the Baseline: Activism and Life Guidance

Billie Jean King’s coaching network extended far beyond tennis technique. She was also mentored by leaders in social justice and civil rights. One of the most important figures was Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. King met Gibson in the early 1960s, and the two formed a deep bond. Gibson encouraged King to use her platform to speak out against inequality, even when it was uncomfortable. King has said that Gibson’s struggle for recognition in a segregated sport taught her that “tennis could be a force for social change.”

Another influential mentor was Arthur Ashe, the legendary male tennis star and civil rights activist. Ashe and King became close friends and allies. He advised her on how to handle the pressures of public activism and how to build coalitions across racial and gender lines. Their friendship was reciprocal: King often supported Ashe’s efforts in the fight against apartheid and for African American representation in tennis.

King also looked up to Margaret Court, despite their intense rivalry. Court, who held the record for most Grand Slam singles titles, taught King about the importance of physical conditioning and mental fortitude. While they often clashed on cultural and political issues, King respected Court’s dedication to the sport and sometimes sought her advice on training regimens.

Outside of tennis, King was mentored by feminist icons such as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan. These connections came after the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match, when King was thrust into the national conversation about gender equality. Steinem helped King articulate her message in interviews and public appearances. She also introduced King to the broader women’s liberation movement, which inspired King to co-found the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and push for equal prize money at the US Open.

The Virginia Slims Circuit: Building a Movement Through Mentorship

One of the most significant mentorship episodes in King’s career was not one-on-one but collective. When she and eight other women players broke away from the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association in 1970 to form the Virginia Slims Circuit (later the WTA Tour), they relied on a network of mentors who believed in their cause. Key among them was Gladys Heldman, the publisher of World Tennis magazine. Heldman used her influence to secure sponsors and media coverage for the rebel tour. She coached King and the other players on how to negotiate contracts and handle the press. King called Heldman “the godmother of women’s tennis.”

Another mentor in that era was Jerry Diamond, the first executive director of the WTA. Diamond worked closely with King to structure the tour’s business model. He taught her the intricacies of sports marketing and media rights. Diamond’s guidance was instrumental in turning the WTA into a sustainable, profitable organization.

King also credits Rosemary Casals, her longtime doubles partner, as a peer mentor. Casals and King won 10 Grand Slam doubles titles together. On the court, they pushed each other to take risks. Off the court, they strategized about how to create opportunities for women in tennis. Casals was outspoken and fearless, and King often relied on her energy to stay motivated during tough matches.

The Ripple Effect: How Mentorship Shaped King’s Activism

King’s mentors did not just teach her tennis—they taught her how to fight for justice. Her relationship with Larry King may have ended professionally, but the lessons she took from him about discipline and strategy were applied to her activism. When she founded the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974, she used the same rigorous approach she had learned on the court: set clear goals, build a team, and execute relentlessly.

One of her most important mentors in the political arena was John A. “Jack” Scott, a former U.S. Senator and civil rights leader. Scott advised King on how to lobby for Title IX enforcement and how to navigate the halls of Congress. He taught her to frame women’s sports not as a special interest but as a civil rights issue. That framing echoed in King’s famous quote: “Pressure is a privilege.”

King’s activism also benefited from the mentorship of Donna de Varona, a former Olympic swimmer who became a sports broadcaster and advocate for women in sports. De Varona helped King understand the importance of media representation. They worked together to create the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Media Award, which honors journalists who cover women’s athletics fairly.

King as Mentor: Passing the Torch

Today, Billie Jean King is celebrated as a mentor to a new generation of athletes. She has coached and advised players like Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Megan Rapinoe. Her mentorship style is direct and encouraging. She teaches young athletes not only how to win matches but also how to use their platforms for social good. For example, she advised Venus and Serena on how to handle questions about race and gender in their early careers, drawing on her own experiences with discrimination in tennis clubs and locker rooms.

King also mentors activists outside of sports. She serves on the board of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which focuses on diversity and inclusion in corporate environments. She regularly speaks at conferences and universities, urging young people to find mentors who will push them to be bold. “You don’t become a leader without someone showing you the way,” she often says.

One of King’s most notable mentees is Billie Jean King Jr. (not a relative but a young activist who changed her name in honor of King). King has guided her on how to organize grassroots campaigns. This reciprocal relationship shows how mentorship can be a two-way street—even for a legendary figure, learning never stops.

The Enduring Legacy of Mentorship in King’s Life

The story of Billie Jean King’s coaches and mentors is ultimately a story about the power of human connection. Every great athlete stands on the shoulders of those who came before, and King has never been shy about acknowledging her debt. From Alice Marble’s first lesson to Jack Kramer’s tough love, from Larry King’s strategic genius to Frank Brennan’s biomechanical refinements, and from Althea Gibson’s courage to Arthur Ashe’s wisdom—each relationship left an indelible mark.

King’s ability to absorb guidance from diverse sources—coaches, rivals, politicians, activists, and fellow players—made her uniquely equipped to bridge the worlds of sport and social change. She did not just become a champion because she trained hard; she became a champion because she learned how to listen, adapt, and act. That is the essential lesson of her mentorship network.

Today, as young athletes look to King for inspiration, they are not just seeing a woman who won tennis matches. They are seeing a woman who was open to being taught, who chose her mentors wisely, and who turned their lessons into a movement. In that sense, Billie Jean King’s relationships with her coaches and mentors are as much a part of her legacy as the trophies she holds.

For more on Billie Jean King’s impact, visit the official Billie Jean King website and the Women’s Sports Foundation. Additional insights can be found in her memoir All In, published by Penguin Random House.