Beyond the Baseline: Milly Keighery, USTA Eastern, Adult League Coordinator – Long Island
For the past several years, Milly Keighery has been a part of USTA Eastern adult league teams which played out of the Southern region. It’s through that competition where she has had the opportunity to play against teams from Long Island, and learned first-hand how serious players from the area take their tennis.
“I play on several USTA Eastern teams based out of Westchester. I started a few years ago on a 3.5 team and have since worked my way up to playing on 4.5 teams. It’s been an incredible experience–not just the tennis, but also the amazing women I’ve met along the way,” said Keighery. “I haven’t played on any Long Island teams yet, but I’ve faced off against a few in the playoffs–and wow, they are fierce competitors.”
That familiarity will now come in handy, as earlier this summer, Keighery was named the new Adult League Coordinator for the USTA Eastern Long Island Region, assuming the role from previous coordinator Becky Bellino. Keighery took over the role in late June, and has been working tirelessly to familiarize herself with the intricacies of the job while also getting to know the immense amount of players who compete here on Long Island.
“When I learned about the role and opportunity, I jumped at the chance. I’m now thrilled to be working in a field where I’m truly passionate about the mission, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring team,” she said. “I’ve been focused on building a strong understanding of the league’s structure, rules and the needs of our players. I’ve been in touch with several team captains and players to learn from their experiences and gather feedback, and I’ve been reviewing league policies and attending meetings to familiarize myself with the best practices.”
Throughout this transition process, Keighery says Bellino has been invaluable in bringing her up to speed:
“Becky has been an incredible mentor–her guidance, insights and steady support have helped me feel more confident as I step into this role. She’s encouraged a hands-on, learning-through-doing approach, which has been both practical and empowering. I also feel very fortunate to be part of the Eastern team, which works incredibly well together. Beyond Becky’s mentorship, the entire team has been supportive and generous with their time and knowledge, helping guide me through the learning process and giving me a broader understanding of how the organization operates.” 
While she may be new to Long Island, Keighery is hardly new to responsibility and being a leader. She was the youngest of four children born on a remote farm in Australia, and after playing tennis throughout her childhood and through college, she began working at an American investment bank in Sydney before being offered a transfer to New York City. It was a move she embraced and one that she looks back on with great fondness.
Keighery started a family and all three of her kids were born here in New York, but tennis took a bit of a backseat for a time as the fast-paced world of working in finance while raising a family requires a significant time commitment.
“When I first started working, it became quite difficult to play tennis regularly; the intensity of my career, given the hours and travel requirements, and then the demands of young family life once we had kids left little time for [tennis],” she recalls. “However, after my husband and I decided to make the move to Westchester–and then especially during the pandemic–tennis became a regular part of our lives again. I joined a few USTA Adult Leagues which reignited my competitive spirit and introduced me to some of my most meaningful adult friendships.”
Rejoining the tennis community after many years away has been a wonderful experience for Keighery and her family. She has competed in women’s leagues, reaching the National Championships with one of her teams, but also was able to play in a mixed doubles league with her husband on the team.
“That was especially fun,” she says. “We treated matches like date nights!”
She will now take that reinvigoration into her now role as Coordinator of the USTA Eastern Long Island Adult League, where she relishes building on the success of not just Bellino, but also Kathy Miller before her. There is a strong tradition of not just participation, but success from the teams on Long Island, and Keighery wants to keep that going.
“I couldn’t be more excited to step into this position. It’s truly been a dream of mine to work with the USTA and stay connected to the tennis community–something that has always been a passion for both me and my family,” she said. “I’m excited to contribute to the growth of the Long Island tennis community while upholding the league’s high standards.”
Keighery will fully take over the role this fall, and is looking forward to being an integral part of a community that has embraced her over the last few years. She wants players and providers to know she is fully committed to supporting their experience and creating a positive environment throughout the league, and that she is approachable. Keighery wants people to provide her with feedback to make the league a welcoming space where everyone can grow, be competitive and, most importantly, have fun.
“I genuinely love this sport. The competition is great, but the friendships and camaraderie that come from being part of the adult league are truly priceless,” she explained. “My goal is to ensure that everyone has an amazing experience, and finds the same joy in this sport that I do.”
