Richard Sipala, a former assistant coach at St. John’s University and Florida Atlantic University, was named the new head tennis coach at Hofstra University on August 26, 2021. In his role, Sipala will oversee both the Pride men and women’s tennis programs.
During his first season in 2021-22, Sipala coached the men's program to five dual match victories while the women's team notched four wins. Both teams enjoyed outstanding years in the classroom with each earning ITA All-Academic Team accolades.
Sipala coached on the St. John’s men’s tennis staff from 2018 through the 2020 season and helped the Red Storm to the Big East Championship in his first season. St. John’s was 19-6 that season and Sipala was part of the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year.
As an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic in 2017-18, Sipala helped coach the men’s team to a 19-10 record. The Owls reached the Conference USA Finals that season.
Since November 2020, Sipala has served as a coach for WTA professionals Jovana Jovic and Conny Perrin. In his role, Sipala organizes practice and fitness schedules and travels with the pair to WTA and ITF tournaments, both in the United States and abroad.
Sipala, a Quogue, New York, native, was a four-year member of the men’s tennis team at Bryant University. He was a First-Team All-Northeast Conference selection as a freshman after winning 18 matches and served as team captain as a senior.
Following graduation, Sipala moved to New Delhi, India, to serve as an assistant coach at the Vishaal Uppal Tennis Academy.
Sipala earned a degree in sociology from Bryant and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at St. John’s.
