NEW ROCHELLE & BRONXVILLE, N.Y. –
Iona University today announced the return of men's and women's tennis to the
Gaels' varsity athletics lineup, marking the 25th and 26th NCAA Division I programs to be sponsored by the University. In addition, men's and women's tennis will also be introduced for the first time as
club sports.
Director of Athletics
Matthew Glovaski said a national search is underway to hire a head coach who will build both varsity programs over the 2025-26 academic year. The Gaels are expected to resume DI competition in 2026-27 and compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Both Division I programs last competed at the varsity level in 2003.
"Iona University continues to grow and we are proud to offer expanded opportunities for varsity intercollegiate competition," said Glovaski. "The University's location in a tennis-rich region and access to dedicated facilities allow us to reintroduce a program with deep roots in our history. We are excited to support this revival and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our student-athletes and broader community."
The return of Iona tennis reflects the University's continued commitment to expanding student opportunities and leveraging campus resources to enhance the overall collegiate experience.
The programs will utilize the existing indoor and outdoor tennis facilities on
Iona's 28-acre Bronxville campus, acquired in 2021. Planned renovations to the site will prepare the venue for Division I competition. Club tennis, meanwhile, will start this fall, with competition planned for the fall and spring semesters.
The Gaels' return to competition also benefits from Iona's proximity to national and regional tennis landmarks. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, and the USTA Eastern Section headquarters in Purchase, N.Y., are both located within 20 miles of campus, reinforcing the program's regional relevance and recruiting reach.
Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., expressed his enthusiasm for the announcement, saying it builds upon his vision as Iona continues to expand both its academic and extracurricular opportunities.
"We acquired the Bronxville campus because we were eager to grow in support of student success both inside and outside of the classroom. Today's announcement reflects that vision continuing to come to life," said Carey. "Whether playing at the varsity or club level, we look forward to celebrating our student-athletes on the tennis courts."
A STORIED PAST
Men's tennis at Iona began in 1953, becoming the University's seventh varsity sport at the time. The program found early success in the Middle-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (MECAA) and the Metropolitan College Tennis Conference (MCTC), capturing several league titles in the 1950s and 60s. The 1970s were the program's most dominant era under Arrigoni Hall of Fame coach Brother Harry Dunkak, highlighted by three undefeated seasons (1972, 1975, 1977) and an ECAC Championship in 1976. The Gaels joined the MAAC in 1982 and won their only conference title in 1990 at the Concord Resort in Kiamesha Lake, New York.
Women's tennis was established in 1979 as Iona's fifth women's varsity sport and was first led by Arrigoni Hall of Famer Sandie Capafali, who also coached the first women's basketball team. Competing initially under the Eastern Tennis Association, the program became a charter member of MAAC women's tennis in 1983. Iona finished as high as fourth in the standings three times (1991, 1992, 2000) during its 21-year tenure in the league.
Home Court Tradition
Tennis at Iona has long benefited from passionate support and unique venues. The men's and women's teams originally played on campus clay courts before relocating to various sites in Mount Vernon, Eastchester, and Pinebrook Tennis Center in New Rochelle. Indoor matches were held in the University's Mulcahy Center (now Hynes Center), where the fast rubberized surface offered a distinctive home court advantage. In 1985, Iona hosted a memorable exhibition featuring then-world No. 1 Ivan Lendl in front of 2,500 spectators.
CONTINUED GROWTH
The addition of tennis builds upon the recent expansion of Iona's athletic offerings, including the launches of men's lacrosse, women's golf and acrobatics & tumbling.
On its Bronxville campus, Iona has also upgraded facilities such as a weightlifting room, two gymnasiums, an all-purpose turf field, locker rooms, performing arts spaces, dance studio and a modern, made-to-order dining hall, the Cafe at Bronxville. Iona Bronxville also houses the newly renovated practice facility and simulation room used by the men's and women's golf programs.
Meanwhile, Iona this fall will welcome over 60 students into its newly renovated residence hall, Bohm Hall, further adding to the vibrant campus life in Bronxville. The campus is also notably home to the
NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences and the Kelly Center for Health Sciences.
Iona's continued investment in the student experience, as highlighted by the return of tennis and the campus upgrades in Bronxville, affirms its dedication to providing opportunities for students to thrive as they learn outside the lines of the classroom. As the Gaels prepare to return to the courts, the tradition and pride of Iona tennis will once again have a place in the University's future.
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