Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) will pave the way for a tennis programme in Island schools.

Sherri Williams, 26, will arrive in Bermuda next month and will serve as a development consultant on behalf of the ITF.

Her number one priority, according to BLTA president David Lambert, will be to set up a schools programme, but her mandate will also encompass public relations, marketing and fundraising.

The Philadelphia native has been hired on a 10-month contract, but it's possible she'll work beyond that period.

She is also expected to play a key role in standardising teaching techniques and will develop players for international competitions, most notably Davis and Federation cups.

"We feel we are definitely going international now and we would definitely like to have any assistance from the ITF,'' said Lambert yesterday. "We just want to make sure that if there is any opportunity for our members to play international tennis to have somebody from the ITF work this closely with us could only be a plus.'' BLTA officials were first made aware of Williams' availability during the French Open last May.

At the time, former president Keith Fisher was informed by Frank Couraud, ITF development officer for the Caribbean, that Williams was being considered for a similar role in Trinidad and Tobago or Southeast Asia, but if the BLTA acted quickly they would be able to secure her services.

Williams comes to Bermuda recommended from the highest echelons of the ITF.

For the past four years she has been employed at a Philadelphia bank, but has been a tennis coach in California and Pennsylvania.

A graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Williams was captain of the varsity squad for two years and won the All Academic Big East Conference Award for two straight seasons.

"Those tennis jobs I had in college and after college dealt more with coaching, but this position will certainly be much more expansive,'' said Williams in a telephone interview. "I'll be involved in a lot of things in Bermuda, using a lot of the skills I've worked on here at the bank. I think it's more of a management role in terms of effectively utilising the resources that are down there and trying to promote the sport.'' Williams, busy planning her move here, has kept in constant contact with BLTA officials Joseph Morley and Lambert. Her date of arrival was expected to be October 23, but that may now be pushed up a week.

The BLTA became full members of the ITF a year ago, with the first spin-off being Bermuda's inaugural participation in Davis Cup. Couraud visited the Island in May, urging the BLTA to compete in other international tournaments.

He also stressed the importance of a schools programme.

"The earlier I can get down there the better,'' said Williams. "I want to jump right in and get my feet wet. I feel very excited because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'' In her most recent tennis job as associate coach at the University of Redlands in California, Williams oversaw the women's programme and recruiting. As head pro and programme administrator at Cedarbrook Country Club in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, she was responsible for all private lessons.

"This isn't the biggest move of my life, Bermuda will actually be a shorter distance from other places I've been.'' She is eager for tennis to be prominent in her life again, but has made it clear that her ultimate goal is to return to school to pursue a career in sports marketing.

"The chance to put business and sport together is really exciting and I'm certainly glad to get back in the loop,'' she said. "I've certainly missed it and now that I have this opportunity I realise I missed being away from sports more than I thought.''