The University of Dayton has announced Ryan Meyer as its new head coach in men’s and women’s tennis. Meyer, 27, was a four-year college player at Franklin College, has coached at the collegiate level for seven seasons and is a licensed tennis professional.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to take lead of the UD tennis program,” Meyer said. “To coach at a university with such a great academic and athletic reputation is an honor. I’m very much looking forward to working with everyone in the program and can’t wait to get started.”
Meyer comes to Dayton from Thomas More College, where he was the head women’s tennis coach for the past three seasons. Prior to coaching at Thomas More, he was an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati (2009-10) and at Franklin College (2007-2009).
Prior to coaching at Franklin, Meyer earned four letters as a member of the tennis team. He was an individual conference champion in 2005, and team captain as a senior. He earned his Bachelor’s in Recreation with a minor in Sport Management in 2008. Meyer also holds a Master’s in Coaching and Athletic Administration earned from Concordia (CA) University in 2010.
Meyer also has teaching professional experience at Five Seasons Sports Club in Crestview Hills, Ky., Stanford University and the Van der Meer Tennis University in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He also interned at the Professional Tennis Registry in Hilton Head, and at the Lake Piedmont Tennis Club in Indianapolis.
“We are very happy that Ryan has accepted our tennis coaching position,” UD Senior Associate Director of Athletics Mike Kelly said. “He brings a wide range of experiences as a college player, college coach and teaching pro that will greatly benefit the student-athletes in our tennis programs.”
Meyer replaces Eric Mahone, who resigned just before the school year commenced.
The Flyer tennis teams were guided on the court this fall by coaching intern Leah Hottois, a former player at Texas A&M.
“We were very fortunate that Leah was already joining our program when we found ourselves without a head coach,” Kelly said. “And we were even more fortunate when Leah was able to do the outstanding job she did in such an unusual role. Without her, this fall could have been a lot different for the young people on both teams.”
Hottois will continue to work with the Dayton tennis programs.
The Flyer spring seasons will begin in January. The women’s team is at Butler on Friday, Jan 18, while the men’s team opens at home on Friday, Jan. 25 versus Robert Morris.
