Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Tennis Coach Jason Pasion has been named the Long Island College Coach of the Year by the Long Island Region of the United States Tennis Association. He will receive the award at the organization's annual dinner on May 2, 2019, at Chateau Briand in Carle Place.
 
Pasion is in his third season in charge of the Hofstra Men and Women's Tennis programs after coming to the University in September 2016. He has won 19 dual matches in two seasons with the Pride men, and has seen four men's players compete at the prestigious ITA All-American National Championships in each of the past two seasons, marking Hofstra's first-ever appearances at the event. He has also coached a doubles team to an ITA Regional ranking in 2017. The Hofstra women have won 20 matches over Pasion's first two seasons. In 2017-18 freshman Alejandra Ruffini won 20 matches, the second-highest total by a Hofstra rookie in a season and the fourth highest single season total in program history. 
 
In addition to his on-court coaching, Pasion is also being recognized for his efforts off the court. He, along with his team, has been a fixture on the local tennis scene to help grow the game. Pasion has volunteered with his team at ball person tryouts at New York Open. The Pride took part in a Net Generation event at the New York Open as well, teaching the game to a group of children. Pasion also ran a pre-qualifying New York Open event at Hofstra, as well as USTA-sanctioned junior and adult tournaments. 
 
Away from tennis, Pasion and the Pride have been regular participants in Hofstra's Shake-a-Rake initiative where students, faculty and staff rake leaves and clean up the yards of local elderly and disabled residents in the neighborhoods around the University. His teams have also volunteered at the Long Island Children's Museum and for the HEADstrong Foundation. 
 
This is not Pasion's first USTA award as he was the recipient of the 2010 USTA Long Island Community Service Award, an award given to an individual whose dedication to serving the tennis community is outstanding and unique. He is also highly involved with the USTA Eastern Section and since May 2010 has been the coach of the George Myers Church Cup team. He led the Eastern team to the 2013 championship; an achievement the Eastern Section had accomplished only twice in the previous 25 years. 
 
Pasion is currently a USTA Eastern Section National Coach and in 2015 he led the USTA Eastern National Team to a second place finish at USTA Intersectional Championship in Auburn, Alabama.