Meet Dominik Jakovljevic

PROVO, Utah – Junior Dominik Jakovljevic continues to take on bigger roles as his career at BYU progresses. Learn more about Jakovljevic, including how tennis has shaped his life and his decision to become a Cougar.

Youth Tennis

Jakovljevic’s father played high school tennis in his native Croatia and always wanted his son to play as well. The younger Jakovljevic first picked up a racket at six years old and quickly fell in love with the game.

When he was seven, Jakovljevic entered a 12-and-younger tournament, which he won. His coach felt he was good enough to eventually pursue a competitive tennis career, eventually leading Jakovljevic to collegiate tennis.

Choosing BYU

Former head coach Brad Pearce first recruited Jakovljevic to BYU, but he stepped away before Jakovljevic finished high school. Jakovljevic ultimately stayed with his BYU commitment after meeting current head coach Dave Porter.

“I felt like the vision that Coach Porter had was good. He wants us all to aspire to play pro tennis,” he explains. “He wants our team to be the best in the region and in the conference, so that really appealed to me.”

Finding a Career Path

Playing tennis has also helped Jakovljevic discover his career goals. The Bellevue, Washington, native taught tennis to local kids when he was in high school, and many of his clients’ parents worked in the tech industry. As he learned more about their careers, Jakovljevic decided to pursue something similar, ultimately studying cybersecurity at BYU.

After graduating from BYU next year, Jakovljevic plans to land a job in the tech industry. Part of the reason why he chose BYU is because he also looked forward to the academic opportunities he would have as he pursues his career goals.

Enjoying the Sport

Jakovljevic’s favorite thing about playing tennis is the people he gets to be around. He especially enjoys being with his teammates, both on and off the court.

“My favorite thing about being on the team is the people I get to meet. I am good friends with all of my teammates,” Jakovljevic says. “I have enjoyed making connections that will last a lifetime.”