A passion for tennis has taken James Bellette around the world as a coach to the game's next generation of stars.

He's now hopeful he can help children on the Tomaree peninsula achieve their dreams.

"The likes of Roger Federer are one in five million,"  Bellette said.

"But there are many Australian role models at the moment when for many years it was just Lleyton Hewitt."

Bellette was an international junior from the Sunshine Coast. He was just 17 when he decided to make his career in coaching. 

He’s worked alongside Andre Agassi's coach Nick Bolletieri at the IMG Accademy, Florida, where many US families hope to send their children.

Bellette's last international gig was in Europe before IMG brought him back to Australia, to work in Queensland's Caloundra.

"It's a good career path for kids to get into," he said.

"It's a healthy lifestyle, you get to play outdoors in the sun and get paid for it."

Despite his many options Bellette said he couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with  Soldiers Point coach Peter Doohan.

"To work with an ex-Davis Cup player of Pete's caliber, in a beautiful place like this, is a great opportunity," he said.

"When the opportunity came up I leapt at it."

There's been plenty to like in the days since his arrival.

"Talent wise the kids here are as good as I have seen here in Australia and abroad," he said.

Between his time on the junior International Tennis Federation tour and his extensive coaching experience Bellette said there was one quality that would ultimately determine a player's success.

"You've got these kids with God-given talents but the big thing is attitude," he said.

That's the edge, he said, that so many young players from Eastern Europe possess - drive. Despite sub-zero temperatures boys and girls in Russia and Ukraine train relentlessly.

"The kids not only have to have talent but the drive and killer instinct," Bellette said.

Doohan said he was excited to have Bellette on his side to help inject some enthusiasm into the area’s youth.

“James understands what it takes for these kids to reach the elite level,” he said.