The Cayman Islands National Squash Association has welcomed senior national team player Julian Jervis as new assistant junior coach.
Jervis, who previously spent four years as head coach for the South Sound Squash Club, officially began his new role on 16 Oct.
He said this position is more than a job; it’s the culmination of a lifelong passion that started when he was just 10 years old.
“This role means everything to me … [and] feels like my true vocation in life” he said, reflecting on the full-circle moment of moving from student to coach.
“Squash has given me life lessons, self-confidence, and incredible experiences. I remember every coach I’ve ever had, and each of them holds a special place in my life. To now be that person for the next generation of Caymanian squash players feels like everything has come full circle. It fills me with pride to give back to the sport that has shaped who I am.”
The 28-year-old’s career highlights include winning three Junior CASA titles, capturing the gold medal in the doubles plate event at the Commonwealth Games, and achieving back-to-back Caribbean doubles titles while maintaining a top three ranking in the men’s Caribbean standings for four years.
What Jervis brings to the table as coach
Jervis, who is also a certified ESF Level 3 coach, brings a proven track record of competitive excellence to the national junior squash programme, working alongside head coach Sardar Ali Khan to oversee everything from daily training to athlete development, technical growth and competitive readiness across the board.
Some of Jervis’ proudest coaching moments at the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association Championship include guiding Kaylee Pierre to secure Cayman’s historic first Junior title in seven years in 2024 – the first female champion in 17 years – and, in 2025, leading Pierre and Charlie Makin to the finals, and Milanna Lamontagne and Brodey McComb to a mixed doubles bronze medal.
Jervis believes his greatest strengths for this role as assistant coach lie in his communication skills and deep technical understanding of the game.
“In my coaching so far, I’ve found that I have a real ability to help players grasp complex skills, tactics and coordination that might otherwise feel out of reach,” he explained.
“I also bring an undeniable passion for the sport that tends to inspire those around me. I want to continue making squash accessible and engaging for Caymanian players of all levels, while steadily raising the standard of our competitive play both regionally and internationally,” he added.
His overarching goal is “to establish Cayman as the epicenter of Caribbean squash and to build our reputation as the best squash-producing nation in the region”.
“Right now, that title is being contested by Barbados and Guyana, but I believe we can close that gap with the right planning and consistent effort. A key part of this vision is expanding the sport’s reach across all districts of the Cayman Islands through grassroots programs,” he said.
The partnership with Sardar Ali Khan is one Jervis describes as “[we] balance each other perfectly”.
He says that Khan provides a “wealth of wisdom and experience,” and has taught him a lot about maturity and discipline along with insights on the game that has often stuck with him and “tend to make even more sense as time goes on”.
Jervis added, “I bring energy, recent experience as a competitive player, enthusiasm, and a very technical knowledge base. Together, we cover everything from player fundamentals to high-level strategy, which allows us to guide players from their first steps on court all the way to the competitive stage.”
Continuing in his capacity as a national player, Jervis will compete in the Senior Caribbean Area Squash Association Championship from 23-29 Nov. in Jamaica.
