Mythbusters: Getting to Know Some of New York City’s Top College Tennis Coaches
New York City has everything. This includes some premier national collegiate tennis programs. While colleges and universities in warm weather regions often win the national championships, New York City has many schools which fare quite well on the national ranking list. As far as cities go that play indoor tennis in the wintertime, I truly believe NYC has the highest quality college tennis programs of any city. I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the coaches to get the ins-and-outs of their program.
Horace Choy ♦ NYU
Men’s and Women’s Head Tennis Coach
Do you prefer local players or does it really matter whether or not the player is local?
The reach of NYU is both national and international, so I do not have a "preference" for local players as I look for any players who will help our programs. That being said, I know that the East produces a lot of strong players and is sometimes undervalued as a region, so I make every effort to attract local players. I am looking for players that are three-star players or higher to recruit.
How do you sell NYU to recruits?
The biggest advantage for the student attending NYU is the diversity that it offers.
Is having your school located in New York City a positive or negative in recruiting?
New York City can be both a positive and a negative. Some students can be overwhelmed by the size and energy of the City, while others embrace it, looking for a unique educational experience. It is about the right fit. I ultimately want players here who will be happy here.
Do you have any advice for New York area juniors who would like to play college tennis?
I would tell players to do their research. There is high level tennis in all divisions, and players should make sure they are a "fit" if they want to play.
Ilene Weintraub ♦ Columbia University
Head Women’s Tennis Coach
Do you prefer local players or does it really matter whether or not the player is local?
Ideally, I would like our program to be a microcosm of the university by including a diverse roster with players from all over the country. However, since I grew up in New York and played in the ETA Section myself, I have formed strong relationships with many local coaches in Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey, which has led to many local players coming to play for me at Columbia.
How do you sell Columbia to recruits?
Columbia is ranked number four in the world according to U.S. News & World Report. We were Ivy League Champions in 2013, finished last season ranked 39th in the nation and received an at-large bid to the NCAA's. We are one of the only programs in the country that can offer both a world-class education and the opportunity to play on a top nationally-ranked team. Usually, players have to choose between going to a top tennis program or going to a prestigious academic school. With Columbia, you no longer have to choose, you really can have it all.
Is having your school located in New York City a positive or negative in recruiting?
I see New York as a positive in every way. Who doesn't love Broadway shows, fabulous restaurants, fashion week, wall street, celebrity sightings, movies being filmed on campus, shopping in SoHo, museums, art, music, delivery any time day or night, you name it. Attending Columbia in New York City, with its fast-paced professional and competitive environment, helps to prepare our students best for the real world and whatever career path they choose. It gives them an edge that no one else has.
Many of our alumni still live and work in New York, and they become a large part of our student-athlete's experience. They watch our matches, we teach some of their children tennis and they provide mentoring and excellent job opportunities to our graduating seniors.
What type of player/ranking are you looking for in a recruit?
I focus on the top 100 players in the USTA national rankings and/or the top 300 players in the world junior ITF rankings. In terms of personality, we are looking for strong work ethic, good communication skills, independence, high energy and a fighting spirit. We have a really positive team culture and environment that I am extremely protective of. I only want to bring in players who are going to help us improve and continue to contribute to the environment in which players can learn, grow and succeed.
Do you have any advice for New York area juniors who would like to play college tennis?
You can never contact a coach enough. The more I hear from a recruit, the more I get to know them and begin to develop a relationship during the recruiting process, the better. My advice would be that it cannot hurt to be persistent and go for what you want.
Alan Nagel ♦ Queens College
Head Women's Tennis Coach/Interim Head Men's Tennis Coach
Do you prefer local players or does it really matter whether or not the player is local?
I always prefer New York State players because they cost me less in scholarship money, but because I only recruit DI type players (Queens College is Division 2), I find it hard to come by local talent. The three-star and four-star New York players want to either go out of town, or maybe to Columbia. Therefore, in order to fulfill my objective, I usually need to look out-of-state, as well an internationally. I always get a few local non-scholarship players. More recently, when I do get a local player, they are usually transfer players from a D1 school.
What is the biggest draw of Queens College to recruits?
The biggest draw of Queens College is that Queens is considered one of the finest academic schools in New York City. In a survey of all American colleges, Queens College was voted number two in best value by the Washington Monthly. Our outstanding tennis record as stated above and the fact that we have a permanent tennis facility with six indoor courts used exclusively for tennis all contribute to our draw. According to Kaplan/Newsweek’s, “How to Get Into College Guide,” Queens College was named one of America’s hottest schools.
Is having your school located in New York City a positive or negative in recruiting?
New York City is one of the most positive influences for my recruiting. It is one of the most famous cities in the world and has so much to offer in terms of culture, entertainment and job opportunities. Therefore, it is one of my biggest draws. This year, I have players from Morocco, Poland, the Ukraine, India and Paraguay (by way of Florida). Some of these players transferred from more rural DI schools across the country in states including: Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia because they wanted to experience the Big Apple.
What type of player/ranking are you looking for in a recruit?
I am looking for a player who has had a great junior record either internationally or in the USTA. I only recruit players who I feel could play successfully in DI and would likely be offered DI scholarships. Last year, we played several DI schools, including St. Peters, who we beat 9-0, and Georgetown, who we beat 4-3 and they finished with a .500 record playing some of the best DI teams in the East. In order to compete against the best, you need the best!
Do you have any advice for New York area juniors who would like to play college tennis?
My advice to New York area juniors who are seeking to play college tennis is to enter college showcases. Make a good video of themselves and do their homework during their junior and senior years, and research coaches/schools of interest and send those coaches a resume, including grades and SAT/ACT scores, as well as the video. Be assertive in making sure that these coaches know who you are.
Eric Rebhuhn ♦ St. John’s University
Men’s Tennis Head Coach
Do you prefer local players or does it really matter whether or not the player is local?
Obviously, most Northeast kids would rather go and sit at an Ivy League school than have a chance to compete for a spot at St. John’s; which is the most popular school in the Tri-State area in terms of athletic success.
What is the biggest draw of St. John's to recruits?
My focus has always been New York and the chance to live in the best city in the world. I always take recruits to the City and show them all of the things they can do during their career. I also talk about the U.S. Open where we play all of our home matches and practice throughout the year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The last thing is that all of my former players get jobs in many fields, including finance, sports management, pharmaceuticals, etc. after they graduate.
Is having your school located in New York City a positive or negative in recruiting?
New York City is a big positive … it’s the best city in the world.
What type of player/ranking are you looking for in a recruit?
Top 150 ITF or have had ATP points! Occasionally, I look for top 75 in the USTA’s rankings and five-star players. I have four-star players who did not play enough USTA events. An example is my current freshman Elio Livi, who beat Reilly Opelka within the last year. He was a four-star recruit, but has many wins over blue chip and five-star players. We also have a former blue chip on the team, RJ Del Nunzio, who is currently a junior!
Do you have any advice for New York area juniors who would like to play college tennis?
Come to one college match and see the level! The Northeast has almost 10 ranked teams currently, and over my career, I have seen so few players who want to play college tennis even watch a match. We recently held the ITA Regionals at the U.S. Open for one week, and I did not see one Eastern junior at the event. Thirty-two coaches in one place for almost a week … what’s the excuse?
