Our Team
Starr Foster
Co-FounderStarr Foster is a co-founder of StarrMark Academy and a Professional Tennis Registry certified coach in adult and junior development. At age 4, she received her first tennis racquet from the great Arthur Ashe — an experience that shaped her coaching philosophy and approach to the game.
Prior to the pandemic, Starr instructed at Georgetown University for 10 years, including a stint as assistant women's tennis coach where she helped guide the team to a 16-6 record and a 5-2 Big East mark in 2011-2012. She also serves on the USTA Junior Development Committee for the Mid-Atlantic section.
Starr's coaching focuses on high performance training, competitive match play, and mental and movement development for both juniors and adults. Her private lessons are goal-oriented, centered on each player's individual strengths and areas for growth.
Notable achievements include the USTA "Growth of the Game Teaching Professional" award, the Leadership Award from the Indiana Commission for Women, and participation in USTA's Girls Rule the Court pilot program. She is also the founder of Queens of the Court, an organization focused on girls' empowerment and self-esteem.
Mark Dalzell is a co-founder of StarrMark Academy and a passionate tennis professional with over 35 years of coaching experience. Known to his students as Coach Mark, he is an award-winning coach dedicated to helping players at every level develop their skills and reach their full potential.
Throughout his career, Coach Mark has served as Director of Tennis at the Montgomery Sports Association and Head Coach at both DeMatha Catholic High School and Elizabeth Seton High School. He played NCAA II tennis for the College of Saint Rose and went on to work for tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Nick Bollettieri at Ashe-Bollettieri Cities.
Coach Mark brings a proven record of designing and managing successful tennis programs, with a particular passion for bringing the sport to new audiences. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, his focus is on creating a positive, enriching experience for every student.
Co-FounderMark Dalzell
The Ashe Legacy
StarrMark Academy was founded by two coaches whose lives were shaped by the same legend. Starr Foster received her first tennis racquet from Arthur Ashe at the age of four. Mark Dalzell went on to work alongside Ashe directly at Ashe-Bollettieri Cities. That shared connection to one of tennis's greatest champions — and humanitarians — is not coincidence. It is the foundation of everything we teach.