29-May-2014
Quick Take with John McEnroe
If you look at the top American men on the professional stage, you'll
notice a common thread - most of them played college tennis. One of their
forerunners was John McEnroe, who attended Stanford for a year and won
the NCAA singles title before moving on to the professional ranks.
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports asked McEnroe a few questions with a college
focus recently in New York.
21-Oct-2013
Countdown: NCAA Stance on Prize Money
Over the past year, the NCAA has made concerted efforts to simplify
many of its rules. Two of these changes impact amateurism rules for
junior and college tennis players. Moving forward, junior and college
tennis players can keep prize money from tournaments to cover "actual
and necessary expenses." Our friends at Donovan Tennis Strategies
comment on the recent rule changes.
29-Apr-2013
SFA Interviews UCSB Head Coach Simon Thibodeau
Simon Thibodeau, head women's tennis coach at UC Santa Barbara sits down with Scholarship for Athletes to talk recruiting and coaching.
18-Apr-2013
Spring Signing Week '13: NCAA Changes
The NCAA voted earlier this year to do away with many regulations on
recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Some of these changes
will go into effect this year, but many of the approved proposals are
up for reconsideration and possible modification at the Division I
Board of Directors meeting in Indianapolis on May 2.
8-Apr-2013
Countdown: Double Coaching Duties
Recruits should consider many factors when determining what college
and college tennis program best suits them. One important factor is
the coach. Donovan Tennis Strategies delves into a somewhat common
situation at programs in all three NCAA Divisions and in the NAIA -
coaches who are the head coach for both the men's and women's
programs. DTS asks coaches with dual responsibilities to outline the
positive features of such an arrangement.
20-Feb-2013
Conversation with Notre Dame Coach Bobby Bayliss
After 44 years coaching college tennis - the past 26 of those as head
men's coach at Notre Dame - Bobby Bayliss plans to retire after the
2012-13 season. Bayliss, currently the winningest active coach in NCAA
Division I tennis with 751 dual-match victories, has built the Irish
into an NCAA contender with 21 appearances in the NCAA Championships
over the past 22 seasons. Harry Cicma talked with Bayliss
about his career.
13-Feb-2013
SFA Interviews TCU Head Coach David Roditi
David Roditi, head men's tennis coach at Texas Christian University sits down with Scholarship for Athletes to explain what he expects from prospective student athletes during the recruiting process. He reveals the dos and donts of visiting schools and shares his personal coaching philosophies.
5-Dec-2012
SFA Interviews Columbia Sophomore Ashok Narayana
Ashok Narayana is a sophomore at Columbia University who recently won
the ITA Northeast Regional Doubles Title in New Haven, Conn. Narayana
played No. 1 doubles for the Lions last season. Ross Greenstein of
Scholarship for Athletes talked with Narayana about the transition
from junior to college tennis - and the recruiting process.
24-Oct-2012
Countdown: SFA Interviews Cal Poly Coach Nick Carless
Scholarship for Athletes talks with head coach Nick Carless from Cal Poly University, who explains how to navigate the college recruiting process. He offers advice to student athletes and their parents on when to start, how to proceed, and what to expect.
11-Sep-2012
SFA Interviews Kentucky Senior Jessica Stiles
Jessica Stiles, a senior at the University of Kentucky who plays the
No. 1 singles and doubles positions, talks about lessons learned
between her junior and college tennis days. Ross Greenstein of
Scholarship for Athletes shares a Q&A.
8-Aug-2012
Conversation with Wesleyan's Mike Fried
Recently named head coach at Wesleyan University, Michael Fried adds
tremendous experience to the Cardinals' staff. Fried, the No. 1
singles and doubles at Brown where he served as captain, worked
extensively as a private coach at both the Macci International Tennis
Academy and the Seguso-Bassett (now Evert) Tennis Academy. Donovan
Tennis Strategies chats with Coach Fried about recruiting.
9-Jul-2012
SFA Interviews Illinois St. Coach Cris James
Illinois State University men's tennis coach Cris James talks recruitment with Scholarship for Athletes. He explains his recruiting philosophy and advises incoming freshmen on the best ways to approach this process.
22-Jun-2012
An Interview with Lisa Stone, The Tennis Mom Behind the Parenting Aces Blog
A banker, a stockbroker, a fitness instructor and tech-savvy
entrepreneur, Lisa Stone has had a variety of experiences in her
working life. Yet tennis has been a constant companion since her
childhood in Louisiana, with her latest venture, the blog Parenting
Aces, created in response to the challenges she and her husband faced
in navigating the junior tennis world with their son Morgan.
13-Jun-2012
The Target is Always the Top: An Interview with Florida Women's Coach Roland Thornqvist
Colette Lewis had an opportunity to talk with Florida Head Coach
Roland Thornqvist in Athens, Ga. last month, just a few days after his
team's 4-0 victory over UCLA in the final. In this question and answer
segment, he reveals what he looks for in a recruit, how a bad year by
Florida standards led to two NCAA team titles, and the one thing that
college tennis needs.
23-May-2012
Ten Questions with Fordham Coach Cory Hubbard
Fordham men's tennis coach Cory Hubbard has the Rams headed in the right
direction. Hubbard, in his second year, took over a squad that posted a
6-12 record in the 2009-10 season. Fast forward to this year, where the
Rams went 17-10 with three underclassmen all posting 20 or more singles
wins. The future looks bright. IMG Academies' Scott Treibly sat down
to talk tennis with Coach Hubbard.
17-May-2012
Talking with UConn Senior Captain Dave Adams
Dave Adams stands tall at 6'6" tall, and the big right-hander just
finished his college tennis career at the University of Connecticut.
Team captain this past year, Adams played all three doubles positions
over his career as well as positions 3 through 6 in singles. Harry
Cicma of NBC Sports talked with Adams about the college recruiting
process - as well as college tennis itself.
10-May-2012
Todd Martin Embraces Teaching Role
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Todd Martin retired from the ATP tour in
2004, but he never left the game. Among other things, Martin has
served as a coach to both Mardy Fish and Novak Djokovic, and he has
competed on the two major senior tours. In the coming months, Martin
plans to organize his own junior academy at a club in Florida. Colette
Lewis recently had the chance to chat with Martin.
26-Apr-2012
Interview with Emory Coach Amy Bryant
Emory University women's tennis coach Amy Bryant talks with Scholarship for Athletes about the college recruiting process. She offers suggestions to high school athletes about recruitment and explains how the transition into collegiate athletics should be handled.
26-Mar-2012
Countdown: Interview with Tulane Coach Mark Booras
Scholarship for Athletes sat down with Mark Booras, the men's
tennis coach at Tulane University. Booras shares what he looks for in new recruits and the challenges facing incoming freshmen.
8-Mar-2012
Panel Discussion: Scheduling in the Spring (Part 2)
During the spring season, college tennis coaches have a lot of
latitude in deciding their schedule. We asked several coaches: "What
factors go into deciding who your team will play in the spring? Level
of competition? Travel? Something else entirely?" This is the
second installment of answers from tennis coaches.
13-Feb-2012
Interview with University of Denver Coach Danny Westerman
Danny Westerman, the head men's tennis coach at the University of Denver
talks with Scholarship for Athletes about the college recuitment process.
He shares his coaching philosophy and offers advice to potential recruits
as well as their families.
10-Feb-2012
Panel Discussion: Scheduling in the Spring (Part 1)
During the spring season, college tennis teams play dual - or "team" -
matches against other programs. For many teams that compete in
athletic conferences, a number of these matches are predetermined, but
coaches have a lot of latitude in deciding the full schedule. We put
the following question to a number of coaches: "What factors go into
deciding who your team will play in the spring? Level of competition?
Travel? Something else entirely?"
26-Dec-2011
Interview with David Geatz of Penn Men's Tennis
Scholarship For Athletes sat down with David Geatz, the newest men's
tennis coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He provides some
insight on what it takes to play at Penn and what he looks for in
potential recruits.
21-Dec-2011
Coach of Top Pros and Young Teens: An Interview with USTA National Coach Mike Sell
USTA Lead National Coach Mike Sell may have started playing tennis at
the relatively late age of nine, but in the thirty years since, he has
experienced just about everything the sport has to offer. A four-time
All-American for the Georgia Bulldogs, Sell went on to play five years
on the ATP tour before embarking on a career in coaching. Colette
Lewis sat down with Sell at the Junior Orange Bowl to discuss all
things tennis.
14-Dec-2011
Conversation with Maryland Men's Tennis Coach Kyle Spencer
The University of Maryland has announced that it will eliminate eight
athletics programs at the end of the 2011-12 year, including men's
tennis. The university cited financial concerns behind the cuts, but
has announced that student-athletes on eliminated teams have the
option to continue receiving scholarship assistance for their
remaining time at Maryland. Ross Greenstein from SFA talked with
tennis coach Kyle Spencer about the unfortunate situation.
8-Dec-2011
Talking with Brown's Cerretani
From 2000-2004, James Cerretani was a standout tennis player at Brown
University, earning first-team All-Ivy honors four straight years
while representing the Bears in three NCAA doubles tournaments and
helping to lead the team to two NCAA team tournament berths.
Cerretani now competes on the ATP tour, where his current world
doubles ranking is No. 48. Harry Cicma talked with Cerretani about
his tennis and his upcoming charity event in Providence, R.I.
30-Nov-2011
Q&A with Case Western's Todd Wojtkowski
Todd Wojtkowski is now in his fourth year as the head tennis coach at
Case Western Reserve University. Since his arrival, both Spartan
tennis programs have established a new standard of play, bursting onto
the national scene in NCAA Division III tennis. Harry Cicma of NBC
Sports sat down with Wojtkowski to talk college tennis, recruiting, and
coaching.
12-Nov-2011
Fall Signing Week '11: Real World with Tennis Parent Mary Dizon
Mary Dizon is a full-time teacher and mother of four in Southern
California. All of her children have played tennis - and two of them
have gone on to play college tennis. Annette Broersma joins our
Signing Week festivities by talking with Dizon about lessons learned
during the recruiting process - in the latest edition of her "Real
World" column.
25-Oct-2011
Countdown: Talking with Texas Tech's Todd Petty
Last season, Todd Petty led the Texas Tech women's tennis team to
it's second-highest win total in program history. The Lady Raiders'
18-8 record and No. 48 final ranking were good enough to earn Coach of
the Year honors for Petty in the Big 12. Petty sits down with Ross
Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes to talk college tennis - coaching
and recruiting.
3-Oct-2011
Conversation with Wolverine Coach Ronni Bernstein
Ronni Bernstein, head coach of the University of Michigan women's
tennis team, sits down with Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for
Athletes. She advises prospective college athletes to do in depth
research on tennis programs they are interested in, and lists all of
the factors that must be taken into account when making a college
decision.
22-Sep-2011
Real World: Kean Feeder of Boise State
Kean Feeder played college tennis at Boise State - graduating in 2009.
After a brief stint at IBM, he returned to tennis as a coach. He moved
to California, where he coached at the Advantage Tennis Academy. He
found that teaching and helping develop tennis players was his great
passion. A year later, he moved back home to Oregon, where he became a
partner at The Leong Tennis Academy (LTA). He enjoys developing
juniors into great players.
14-Sep-2011
Talking with Michigan State Coach Simone Jardim
Simone Jardim, the coach of the Michigan State Women's Tennis team,
sits down with the Scholarship for Athletes team in this exclusive
interview. She continually notes that passion and ambition to improve
are the top things she looks for in recruits.
26-Aug-2011
Q&A with Georgia's Manny Diaz
When Manny Diaz took over as head coach at the University of Georgia,
his task was a daunting one. He followed the legendary Dan Magill, who
put Georgia tennis on the map with two NCAA titles over 34 years.
Diaz was able to uphold those traditions and then some - winning four
NCAA titles while compiling a 533-114 record. Colette Lewis talks
with Diaz about a wide range of topics.
10-Aug-2011
Real World: Arizona State's Sheila McInerney
Arizona State Head Coach Sheila McInerney has led the Sun Devils to
the NCAA tournament in 26 of her 27 seasons, making 18 Sweet Sixteen
appearances. McInerney has been inducted into the ITA and Southwest
Section Hall of Fame for her service to the tennis community and
college coaching achievements. Recruiting expert Annette Broersma
chats with Coach McInerney in today's article.
1-Aug-2011
Conversation with Tulsa Assistant Thomas Liversage
Thomas Liversage is currently serving his second year as an assistant
men's tennis coach at The University of Tulsa. Prior to joining
Tulsa, Liversage was a player and assistant coach at the University of
San Diego. The four-year letterwinner was a six-time All-West Coast
Conference selection and an NCAA Championship participant in both
singles and doubles. Read Liversage's conversation with Sammy Atri
from Scholarship For Athletes.
20-Jul-2011
Real World: Arizona Graduate Monique (Allegre) Walker
Monique Walker is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson.
She currently resides in the Phoenix area, where she has been a
successful realtor since 2003. She is married to Chris Walker and is
the mother of two young girls. Walker is the subject of today's
installment of The Real World of College Recruiting with recruiting
expert Annette Broersma. These real stories should help potential
recruits better understand the road ahead.
29-Jun-2011
Talking with Kenyon Coach Scott Thielke
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes talks with Scott
Thielke, head tennis coach at Kenyon College. Thielke emphasizes the
need to evaluate universities at all levels - academically,
athletically, and socially - in order to make the most educated
decision on choosing a school.
22-Jun-2011
Real World: Talking with Head Frog David Borelli
TCU women's coach Dave Borelli is the subject of today's installment
of The Real World of Recruiting. Annette Broersma talks with the Hall
of Fame coach about his coaching experiences and philosophies.
11-Mar-2011
Talking with Rice Women's Tennis Coach Elizabeth Schmidt
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes sits down with Elizabeth Schmidt,
head coach of the the Rice University Women's Tennis Team.
Schmidt talks about the challenging transition from junior to college tennis
- and high school to college life.
9-Mar-2011
Harry Cicma with Dartmouth's Bob Dallis
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports speaks with Bob Dallis, head coach of
women's tennis at Dartmouth College. Dallis is in his 21st year as a
Division I head coach - eight of those coming at Dartmouth. Dallis'
squad is coming off a 16-6 season in 2010, and the 2011 edition is
currently ranked #71. Cicma and Dallis discuss college coaching,
recruiting, and much more.
21-Feb-2011
Talking with Wisconsin Head Coach Brian Fleishman
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes talks to Brian Fleishman,
head coach of women's tennis at the University of Wisconsin.
Fleishman notes the importance of being respectful and observant on
official visits to universities.
10-Feb-2011
Talking with Paul Settles, Head Coach of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Ross Greenstein and the SFA team chat with Paul Settles, Head
Coach of Men's Tennis for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Settles
reminds us that having good character, a passionate mentality, and a
solid academic resume are overlooked, but highly crucial keys to
successful recruiting.
3-Jan-2011
Talking with Northwestern's Claire Pollard
Claire Pollard, the Northwestern Women's Tennis Coach, sits down
with the SFA team. She emphasizes her philosophy of looking for
players who show a high level of commitment and a desire to constantly
work to improve their games.
27-Dec-2010
From Player to Coach to Administrator: An Interview with Erica Perkins of the USTA
Erica Perkins of the USTA has experienced college tennis from the
perspective of a player, a coach, and now as an administrator. Senior
manager of junior and collegiate competition in the USTA's Player
Development department, Perkins describes her responsibilities as
"anything that pertains to college tennis within the USTA."
15-Dec-2010
Conversation with Baylor Women's Tennis Coach Joey Scrivano
The Baylor Bears are one of the premier teams in women's college
tennis. The 2010 season saw Baylor win their fifth straight Big 12
Title while posting a 30-3 record and reaching the quarterfinals of
the NCAA Championships. Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes
got the chance to talk with Baylor Head Coach Joey Scrivano.
26-Nov-2010
Talking with Arizona Women's Coach Vicky Maes
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes talks to Vicky Maes, the
University of Arizona Women's Tennis Coach. Maes emphasizes the need
for recruits to build a relationship with college coaches early in the
recruiting process.
8-Nov-2010
Fall Signing Week '10: College Tennis in the Fall
In college tennis, the fall is a grind. There is a frenetic, 10-week
window during which coaches are creating possibilities for the future
of their program - both through recruiting as well as player
development. But what makes this time of year so unique is that
opportunities for the individual are abundant. Looking back on my
time as a player and a coach, many of my favorite memories are from
the fall.
25-Oct-2010
Countdown: Talking with Navy's Keith Puryear
Many high school students are curious about playing sports at one of
the service academies. Ross Greenstein of Scholarship For Athletes
talks with Keith Puryear, head women's tennis coach at the U.S. Naval
Academy. Coach Puryear talks about how he recruits - and he
offers advice to high school athletes.
27-Sep-2010
Conversation with Brett Masi of San Diego
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship For Athletes talks with Brett
Masi, head men's tennis coach at the University of San Diego.
Masi gives advice to both players and parents about the
college recruiting process, and he also comments on what he
looks for in a potential recruit.
13-Sep-2010
College Talk with Middlebury Freshman Andrew Lebovitz
Andrew Lebovitz is heading from Massachusetts up to Vermont this fall
where he will be a freshman at Middlebury College. Lebovitz, a 3-Star
recruit ranked as high as #12 in the USTA New England 18s, sat down to
talk with Donovan Tennis Strategies about his recently-completed
recruiting experience - and how he decided on Middlebury.
11-Aug-2010
Talking with Brett Karpman of Queens University
Julie Wrege recently chatted with Brett Karpman, head coach of the
men's and women's tennis programs at Queens University in Charlotte,
N.C. The two talked about college tennis and recruiting in general
- but they also discussed some issues specific to NCAA Division II
tennis.
2-Aug-2010
Conversation with Tyler Thomson of Minnesota
Ross Greenstein of Scholarship For Athletes chats with Tyler
Thomson, head coach of women's tennis at Minnesota. Thomson
comments on all aspects of the recruiting process - and he gives
advice to players on how to approach college tennis.
12-Jul-2010
Talking with Delaware's Amanda Halstrom
A little over a year ago, Amanda Halstrom was a 4-Star senior from
New York on the recruiting trail. Fast forward to today, where
Halstrom is about to start her sophomore year at the University of
Delaware. Halstrom posted a 27-7 singles record during her freshman
campaign, playing as high as #2 in the lineup, and she earned the UD
Team Sportsmanship Award. Donovan Tennis Strategies talks with
Halstrom about college tennis and recruiting.
30-Jun-2010
Quick Takes with Middlebury Coach Dave Schwarz
Just a month ago, the Middlebury men's tennis team hoisted its
2010 NCAA Championship trophy, the second team title for the Panthers.
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports fired off a few questions to Middlebury
Head Coach Dave Schwarz shortly after his championship.
24-Jun-2010
Adding to a Tennis Legacy: A Conversation with USC's Peter Smith
Peter Smith completed his eighth year as men's head coach at the
University of Southern California exactly the same way he finished his
seventh, leading the Trojans to the NCAA team title. Colette Lewis
sat down with the 2010 Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year to get his views
on some of the major issues in junior and college tennis.
15-Jun-2010
Conversation with Santa Clara's Derek Mills
Ross Greenstein and Scholarship For Athletes caught up with Derek Mills,
coach of men's tennis at Santa Clara. Mills comments on how junior
tennis players should approach the recruiting process - as well as his
recruiting philosophy.
2-Jun-2010
New Jersey Legend Mickey Cook
Harry Cicma speaks with New Jersey tennis legend Mickey Cook. Cook
currently serves as the head tennis coach for Monmouth University's
Division I men's tennis team, and was previously a Big East Coach of
the year at Rutgers University. Cook was a top NCAA regionally-ranked
tennis player at Rutgers, and he is considered to be one of the best
players in New Jersey High School state history.
21-May-2010
Conversation with Vanderbilt's Ian Duvenhage
The team at Scholarship For Athletes talked with Ian Duvenhage, head
coach of men's tennis at Vanderbilt. Duvenhage talks about the recruiting
process, what he looks for in players, and his approach to coaching.
13-May-2010
Scout, Sponsor, Mentor, Technician: Wilson's Adam Schaechterle
As a poetry major at Northwestern University, Wilson's Adam
Schaechterle is as surprised as anyone to find himself Tour and Junior
Manager of the Americas after less than four years in the Racquet
Sports division of the global sporting goods company. Colette Lewis
caught up with Schaechterle at the Easter Bowl.
4-May-2010
Eight Questions with Peter Wright
Peter Wright and the California men's tennis team have had another
strong year in 2010. The Golden Bears are hoping to hear they will
host the first two rounds of the NCAA team tournament when the
pairings are announced tonight on ESPNews (5-6pm EDT). Hear what
Coach Wright has to say about college tennis and recruiting.
29-Apr-2010
Conversation with Northwestern's Arvid Swan
The team at Scholarship For Athletes talked with Arvid Swan, head
coach of men's tennis at Northwestern. Hear what Swan says about the
college recruiting process.
8-Apr-2010
Top Player to Top Coach: Georgia Tech's Bryan Shelton
Bryan Shelton's resume as a college and pro player is impressive. He
was an All-American at Georgia Tech, and he reached a career-high
ranking of 55 on the ATP tour. But since returning to his alma mater
to lead the women's program, his performance as a head coach has
eclipsed even the considerable accomplishments of his playing days.
18-Mar-2010
Eight Questions with Traci Green
Harvard Head Coach Traci Green talks about a number of subjects...
what she looks for when recruiting players, advice for young players
looking to compete collegiately or professionally, and the kinds of
experiences she has had in college coaching. Her comments provide
insight to prospective players and parents.
17-Mar-2010
Talking with Virginia Tech's Jim Thompson
In college men's tennis, the Atlantic Coast Conference has always been
packed with strong teams. This year, one of the hottest teams in the
conference - as well as the nation - is Virginia Tech. Harry Cicma of
NBC Sports recently got the chance to sit down with Hokie Head Coach
Jim Thompson.
11-Mar-2010
A Pro Circuit Summer
We may be amidst a frosty (and endless) winter in these early days of
2010, but college student-athletes and junior players around the
country are already thinking of summer; and not just about flip flops
and tank tops, but about their ambitions, opportunities, and a
tournament schedule that will begin shortly after final exams. For the
best collegiate and junior student-athletes, the few months of summer
freedom are not lost.
8-Mar-2010
Conversation with Case Western Coach Todd Wojtkowski
The team at Scholarship for Athletes talked with Todd Wojtkowski, head
coach of men's and women's tennis at Case Western Reserve.
26-Feb-2010
Steve Johnson Interview
Steve Johnson, a USC sophomore from Orange, CA, sits down with
Scholarship For Athletes to discuss being a Trojan and his transition
from juniors into the top of the collegiate tennis rankings. He is
currently ranked #1 in Men's singles and #13 in doubles. He helped
USC bring home a national championship title in 2009.
25-Feb-2010
Building a National Powerhouse
When Brian Boland arrived in Charlottesville in the fall of 2001,
Virginia had never won an ACC title or more than a round in the NCAA
team championships. Boland went to work, and the accomplishments are
piling up: three straight undefeated ACC seasons, two consecutive
undefeated regular seasons, two NCAA semifinal appearances, three NCAA
individual titles, and now three straight ITA Men's Team Indoor
titles. Here is Colette Lewis' conversation with Coach Boland.
8-Feb-2010
Ivy Focus
The Ivy League is an athletic conference featuring eight of the most
selective colleges in the country. Those institutions are also able to
field strong tennis teams - seven of the sixteen programs are ranked
in the latest Campbell/ITA Rankings. We talked to several Ivy League
coaches about their programs and players.
29-Jan-2010
Conversation with Oklahoma Coach David Mullins
Sooners Women's Head Coach David Mullins recently signed the top two
players in Oklahoma: Whitney Ritchie and Mia Lancaster. Both women are
five-star recruits with impressive singles resumes. Even more stellar
are their doubles credentials. They attend the same high school and as
a pair share five national doubles titles and a state title.
22-Jan-2010
Conversation with Brown's Jay Harris
The Brown Bears are coming off a 2009 season where they went 18-10
overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League. Many of last year's key
contributors have graduated, but head coach Jay Harris adds a crop of
talented freshmen to his team for 2010. Harry Cicma of FiOS1 and WRNN
sat down with Coach Harris to talk about his teams - past and present
- and about playing tennis in the Ivy League.
18-Dec-2009
The Mystique of Ivy League Tennis
An Ivy League education is amongst the most well-respected in the
world. Such schooling also represents the most expensive and
exclusive of American higher education. Ivy League schools are
exceptionally costly and do not offer athletic scholarships. Even so,
top-ranked American athletes are still eager to participate in Ivy
League education and collegiate athletic programs.
30-Nov-2009
Reflections on Recruiting - and on Being Recruited
"Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting". Those words found my ears
repeatedly during my first interview with Princeton. After five years
as head coach, I can reflect on my recruiting successes and
disappointments. Here are eight lessons that I drew from my
experiences - covering players, their families, and coaches.
23-Nov-2009
Conversation with Providence Coach Kyle LaBranche
There is a family dynasty in the Tennis Department at Providence
College. After Carl LaBranche led the men's and women's teams for
more than a decade; his son, Kyle, has taken over as the new women's
tennis head coach. Kyle is one of the hot young prospects in the
world of Division 1 coaching, and I recently caught up with the Lady
Friars new leader.
27-Jul-2009
Panel Discussion: Challenging Players (Part 2)
More coaches weigh in on the question: "What do college tennis coaches
do to challenge and develop players of different abilities?"
17-Apr-2009
Conversation with Syracuse Coach Luke Jensen
One of the most famous coaches in the NCAA is Syracuse head coach Luke
Jensen. Jensen, who won the 1993 French Open doubles title with his
brother Murphy, is now in his third season as head coach of the
Orange. Harry Cicma of NBC News caught up with Jensen during Signing
Week.
12-Mar-2009
One Step at a Time
Chris Woodruff talks with Colette Lewis about the importance of
succeeding at one level before moving to the next.
22-Dec-2008
Conversation with Jesse Medvene-Collins
Jesse Medvene-Collins is an assistant coach for both the men's and
women's tennis teams at the University of Redlands. As a player at
Redlands, Medvene-Collins was part of a team that won four straight
SCIAC Championships and a third place finish at the NCAA
Championships. Ross Greenstein of Scholarship for Athletes sits down
to talk with Medvene-Collins about all things college tennis.
5-Dec-2008
Conversation with Bryant University's Ron Gendron
After a successful run in Division 2, the Bryant University Bulldogs
are in their first year competing at the Division 1 level. I
recently spoke with Bryant Head Coach Ron Gendron about the excitement
surrounding his tennis program.
21-Nov-2008
Conversation with Dr. Mark Kovacs
Dr. Mark Kovacs, Manager of Sport Science for the USTA, is definitely
an expert when it comes to the training of successful athletes. Prior
to becoming a leader within the USTA, Dr. Kovacs was an Assistant
Professor of Exercise Science and Wellness at Jacksonville State
University. Dr. Kovacs has focused his research on the game of
tennis.
5-Nov-2008
Conversation with Roland Thornqvist
Roland Thornqvist is entering his 7th season as head coach for the
Gators at University of Florida in Gainesville. This year will mark
his 12th overall year in coaching tennis. Ross Greenstein of
Scholarship For Athletes talks all things tennis with Coach
Thornqvist.
3-Oct-2008
Talking with UNC-W Coach Jennifer Garrity
People often measure the quality of a coach by the amount of success
her team achieves. This is a little skewed because not all
coaches start with players of equal caliber. A better metric is
measuring how much players on her team improve. The UNC
Wilmington women's team is one such program. Head Coach Jenny Garrity
has quietly turned this program around from one that was well under
0.500 to one that has had six winning seasons in a row.
22-Sep-2008
Conversation with Gordie Ernst
Ross Greenstein, CEO of Scholarship For Athletes, will be interviewing
men's and women's tennis coaches from schools all across the country.
In this first installment, Ross sits down with Gordie Ernst, men's and
women's tennis coach at Georgetown University.
8-Aug-2008
Training Talk with Paul Pisani
What do Ashley Harkleroad, Amer Delic, Robby Ginepri, Sam Querrey, and
Justin Gimelstob have in common? They all have worked with fitness
trainer Paul Pisani. Pisani has developed a niche working with
up-and-coming American players, helping them reach their fitness and
tennis potential. Marc Lucero chatted with Pisani about his strategies
and experiences.
21-Jul-2008
Panel Discussion: Challenging Players (Part 1)
College tennis teams are composed of individuals with different
ability levels. Some players may have professional tennis
aspirations, others walk on to the program, and there are obviously
levels in between. We asked several college coaches: "What do college
coaches do to challenge and develop players of different abilities?"
13-Mar-2008
Panel Discussion: Integrating with a New Team (Part 2)
Today we conclude our discussion on integrating into a college tennis
team - and adjusting to college coaching. College coaches answer the
question: "How does a top junior player transition quickly to a team
atmosphere with less personal attention?"
21-Jan-2008
Panel Discussion: Integrating with a New Team (Part 1)
College tennis is often a huge step for incoming freshmen. One big
difference is in coaching. Many freshmen may not get the individual
attention they were accustomed to as juniors. Some players even feel
like they are lost in the shuffle. We asked our panel of former college
coaches: "How does a top junior player transition quickly to a team
atmosphere with less personal attention?"
2-Nov-2007
Panel Discussion: Junior and College Coaches (Part 2)
This is the the conclusion of a two-part panel discussion where
college coaches answer the question: "What are the differences between
private coaches and college coaches? Does the private coach still
have a role once a player heads off to college?"
27-Aug-2007
Panel Discussion: Junior and College Coaches (Part 1)
Many junior tennis players work with private coaches - coaches that
oversee all aspects of the players' development as athletes and tennis
players. When these junior players graduate from high school, college
coaches take over their development. We asked a number of college coaches
about what makes their role unique - and also the role of a private coach
once a player enters college.
28-May-2007
Panel Discussion: Importance of Facilities (Part 2)
This is the the conclusion of a two-part panel discussion where
college coaches answer the question: "Is there an arms race for
college tennis? What kinds of facilities does a tennis program need
to be competitive?"
23-Apr-2007
Panel Discussion: Importance of Facilities (Part 1)
Our Ask the Experts series returns with another roundtable question:
In college athletics, you often hear about the "arms race" for
top-of-the-line facilities. Is there an arms race for college tennis?
What kinds of facilities does a tennis program need to be competitive?
How much of a difference do facilities make in recruiting?
26-Jan-2007
Panel Discussion: January Admissions (Part 2)
More coaches weigh in on the pros and cons of matriculation in January.
22-Jan-2007
Panel Discussion: January Admissions (Part 1)
Ask the Experts is back with the following question: What are your
feelings about January admissions? When is it a good idea? Are there
situations where you would not allow it? What unique challenges do
kids face when they start in January?
16-Nov-2006
Panel Discussion: Future of Men's Tennis
Ask the Experts is back. We asked a panel of former college coaches:
"It seems like several men's tennis programs are eliminated every
year. Will this reduction continue? Or worse yet, will the rate of
eliminations increase? What will men's college tennis look like ten
years from now?"
11-Sep-2006
Panel Discussion: Balancing School and Tennis
In this installment of Ask the Experts, we ask former college coaches:
"Is it possible to play college tennis while pursuing a 'challenging
major,' or do you discourage and/or set off-limits certain courses of
study? How does this all fit in with the spirit of the
scholar-athlete?"
26-Jun-2006
Panel Discussion: Dividing Men's Scholarships
In this installment of Ask the Experts, we put the question to former
men's coaches: "The NCAA only allows 4.5 scholarships for men's
programs to divide among their players. What philosophy did you use
when dividing these scholarships? In what instances would you award a
full scholarship?"
6-Mar-2006
Panel Discussion: Official Visits
Our Ask the Experts series returns with another roundtable: "As a
coach, did you have a philosophy for official visits? What did you do
to set your school apart? Were there certain events that were
attractive? Did you try to bring in multiple recruits at the same
time?"
23-Jan-2006
Panel Discussion: What Makes a Good Recruit? (Part 2)
This is the the conclusion of a two-part panel discussion where college coaches answer the question: "How do you evaluate recruits?"
9-Jan-2006
Panel Discussion: What Makes a Good Recruit? (Part 1)
Across all college sports today, coaches place tremendous emphasis on recruiting top talent. But in tennis recruiting, what does that "recruiting top talent" really mean? We put this question to a number of former college coaches, and we got some pretty interesting responses.
24-Oct-2005
Conversation with Don Schroer
Schroer shares his thoughts on recruiting in NCAA Division III, changes in Division III through the years, and the importance of character.
29-Aug-2005
Conversation with Dan Magill
Magill speaks candidly about the biggest change he has seen in college tennis over the years - the influx of foreign players.
