Former tennis coach, 71, accused of sexually abusing players decades ago
A former tennis coach from Florida was charged Thursday with sexually abusing players during a tournament stop in Greensboro in 1980, police said.
Douglas Wade Booth, 71, was arrested on Dec. 16 in California and was held under extradition orders, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release Friday. Authorities returned him to Greensboro on Thursday, where he was jailed under a $2 million secured bond.
Booth and his victims were from Pensacola and traveled to tennis tournaments nationwide, police said.
“The offenses took place in several states where the tennis tournaments were held,” police said. “At the time of the sexual assaults, Booth was the victims’ head tennis coach.”
Greensboro police charged Booth with two counts each of indecent liberties with a child and second-degree sexual offense, one count each of second-degree rape and felony child abuse.
Booth worked as executive director of the Florida section of the U.S. Tennis Association for about 29 years, police said.
Police urged anyone with information about Booth to call Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or Greensboro police Det. Jordan Fulp at 336-708-8304.
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 8:34 AM.