The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body of college tennis and a coaches association, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. The ITA is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow while promoting both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, founded in 1956, is comprised of more than 2,000 men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams representing more than 1,250 institutions, while administering numerous regional and national championships, and the ITA/Tennis Point College Tennis Rankings for 20,000 college varsity student-athletes across five levels of play. The ITA also bolsters an industry leading awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership, and sportsmanship. Keep up with all of the excitement around college tennis by visiting WeAreCollegeTennis.com and following the ITA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and LinkedIn.
In this episode, we take you back to December 2022, to a conversation between Dave and Simon Earnshaw, Head Women’s Coach at NC State, where they discuss the philosophy that has guided his remarkable career, how he continues to adjust his approach to success, and much more. Simon is entering his 13th season at NC State, with 10 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, three ACC Women’s Coach of the Year awards and the program’s first NCAA Final Four and National Championship match appearances. Prior to his time at NC State, Simon won 9 NCAA DII National Championship titles with Armstrong Atlantic (3 men’s titles, and 6 women’s titles).
In this episode, Hannah reflects on the pivotal decisions that shaped her coaching journey from Missouri State, to Georgia State, and back to Georgia Gwinnett, the lessons she learned from working alongside one of college tennis' most successful coaches, Chase Hodges, and the advice she would offer coaches stepping into head coaching roles for the first time. She also talks about the difficult decision to leave collegiate coaching and her new role with BUNKR, a company helping transform communication and collaboration.
For more than three decades, Vince Westbrook has led the men’s tennis program at University of Tulsa while helping shape college tennis through leadership roles with the ITA and NCAA. In this episode, Vince shares how he built Tulsa into a nationally recognized program through community engagement, fundraising, and long-term vision. He also discusses the evolving landscape of college athletics and offers insights on leadership, networking, and student-athlete development.
In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council Podcast for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Case Western Reserve teammates Rohit Jain and Glen Ngo discuss Glen's upbringing in Honolulu, his transition to college tennis and how his sibling rivalry fueled his love for the sport. Jain, a member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, shines light on Ngo's move from Hawaii to Cleveland, Ohio, while Ngo outlines how his "bet on yourself" mentality is helping him in his first season of college tennis.
In this month’s podcast, Dave dives into the inspiring journey of Harvard’s Head Men’s Tennis Coach Andrew Rueb, who transformed from a college tennis player at Harvard into a successful coach. Rueb's unique perspective on coaching, influenced by his academic background and personal experiences, offers valuable insights for aspiring coaches and athletes alike. Dave and Andrew discuss his approach to getting athletes to understand their purpose in tennis, his belief in fostering a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and the importance of being a lifelong learner in coaching.
In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council Podcast, Case Western Reserve teammates Rohit Jain and Bryce Ware delve into their tennis journeys, how to navigate the physical and mental challenges of the game and how college tennis is preparing them for life after sport. Jain, a member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, learns about Ware's transition to the Case Western Reserve after transferring from NAIA's Kansas Wesleyan. Ware details his passion for the sport, his career plans for post-graduation and how teaching at a nearby club in a gap-year helped him rediscover his passion for the game.
In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council podcast, the Council's Rohan Murali of Harvard hosts Advik Mareedu of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Together, the two talk their respective journeys in college tennis and what makes the Division III game so special. Mareedu is freshly removed from one of the greatest seasons in DIII tennis history, winning the NCAA singles title in May and holding on to the No. 1 ranking throughout a majority of the 2024-25 season. He closed his season with a 41-1 record and was the seventh NCAA singles champion in program history. Mareedu was also an ITA All-American in singles and doubles, the SCIAC Athlete of the Year, HMC Athlete of the Year, CMS Athlete of the Year, CMS Team Most Valuable Player and both a CSC Academic All-American and an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
Chad Berryhill, Head Women’s Coach at Embry Riddle, didn’t even start playing tennis until his freshman year of high school, when his basketball coach encouraged him to try the sport as a way to stay in shape. That introduction quickly turned into a passion that led him to the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University and eventually into college coaching. At just 22 years old, Chad became the head coach at Hillsborough Community College and has since built a highly successful career at the NCAA Division II level, with head coaching stops at Ferris State and Saint Leo. Along the way. he’s earned multiple ITA National Coach of the Year honors, won the ITA Men’s Indoor National Championship title and has been deeply involved in growing the sport through his service with the ITA. In this podcast, Chad discusses the lessons he learned from working under legendary tennis coach Steve Smith, why coaches should go the extra mile for the industry, and how he gets builds university support in a time of limited resources.
In 2025, Sam made history, becoming the first woman to be named the ITA Division II Men’s coach of the Year, a milestone that speaks to her competitive excellence and leadership. Sam has spent her entire collegiate in NCAA Division II as both a player and a coach. In this episode, Sam and Dave discuss the mentors who shaped her, the lessons that molded her leadership, what it takes to build a championship-caliber program and the advice she has for young coaches - especially women - who want to build long, impactful careers in our profession.
Chuck Kriese spent 33 years at Clemson University before retiring in 2008. He became the winningest coach in ACC history, piling up 685 victories, 10 conference titles, and a legacy that produced All-Americans, national players of the year, and future ATP standouts. A former US National Coach and the author of four influential tennis books, Chuck has shaped how generations of coaches think about development, leadership, and building programs that last. In 2013, Chuck surprised many by returning to college coaching at The Citadel, driven by the same passion for teaching and growth that defined his career.
In this special podcast, Dave & Anthony provide must-know updates for all college coaches, including important rules to remember for all divisions, the NCAA Division I fall pathway, and new information related to Electronic Line Calling and government lobbying efforts.
Robin Stephenson is in her 12th season as the Head Women’s Coach at the University of Washington. Under her leadership, UW has made six NCAA tournament appearances, and finished the season ranked in the top 30 five times. In this podcast, Robin reflects on her time as a volunteer assistant for Bryan Shelton at Georgia Tech and the lessons she carries from that NCAA Championship season. She and Dave discuss her coaching journey, what she thinks defines a great college coach and how she evaluates and challenges herself with each season.
Nick Zieziula is entering his 12th season as the Head Men’s Coach at Binghamton University. In this podcast, Dave and Nick discuss the ways he was able to keep various key stakeholders engaged and involved with his program during a performance slump. They also talk about what coming back from that looks like and how he and his coaching staff are maintaining their momentum. Finally - this fall, Nick’s program and several other universities in New York, along with USTA Eastern, worked together to create a large community service event centered around a fall college tournament. Nick explains what they did, how they did it and why other college coaches should consider implementing something similar in their own communities.
After graduating from the University of Montana, Jason Brown spent years outside the tennis world, including time as a professional poker player. Dave and Jason delve into the skills he honed in the high-stakes world of poker and how those lessons translated back to the court. Jason also discusses the evolution of his coaching career, his experience working in analytics for pro tennis players and the lessons he’s learned from a former teammate.
Tim discusses transitioning from the pro tour to college coaching, his remarkable success at Texas Tech, and his decision to retire. He also opens up about the tragic events that unfolded just 20 days after his retirement, and how they influenced the person he is today.
Coaches, please enjoy this special episode that takes a look back at some of our first podcasts recorded during the 2019-20 college tennis season. Guests such as David Roditi, Peter Wright, Sheila McInerney, and Claire Pollard are featured during this first-ever top moments podcast from the ITA.
In this episode, several leading media members within college tennis sit down with ITA CEO David Mullins to discuss this past college tennis season. Listen as they discuss some of the biggest surprises, breakout stars, and more on this season recap episode.
Raleigh’s experience has fueled his mission at the University of Idaho: to make college tennis indispensable. Raleigh and Dave discuss the steps that he is taking to make sure his program is vital to his athletics department. He also gives advice that all coaches should consider implementing as soon as possible. College tennis is at a critical juncture. Coaches are encouraged to look at all aspects of their program and consider what are truly priorities at this moment. Raleigh’s call to action urges every coach to proactively invest in their program's longevity, turning a crisis into an opportunity for growth and popularity.
In this podcast, Dave & Steve discuss how he implements what he learns through his PhD, to his team, how he develops a culture of continuous improvement in his athletes, and the ways he stays innovative in managing his program. Steve also gives some great advice on how coaches can wrap up their season and the school year.
Dave & Chris discuss coaching transitions, from volunteer to full-time assistant, and across schools. Chris shares his perspective on the importance of staying in one place, working for good people and learning the ins and outs of the profession. They also discuss recruiting and the impact of NIL on tennis, the ways in which he continually learns how to improve as a coach, and new ideas he impleneted with his team.
Producer's note
Steal the structure. Not the show.
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
