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New College of Florida is one year away from launching men’s and women’s tennis programs.

The Sarasota-based college added intercollegiate athletics in 2023, fielding six varsity sports with more than 150 scholarship athletes for the 2023-24 school year. New College was accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a full member of The Sun Conference on July 1, 2024.

The Mighty Banyans hired Jeff Maren as the inaugural head coach for the men’s and women’s programs. Maren joins New College after 12 years as the head coach of the Liberty University women’s team. Before joining the Flames, Maren spent six seasons as the associate head coach for the North Texas women’s program.

Maren spoke with Tennis Recruiting Network to provide more background on the new programs:

Why did the school launch tennis programs?

JM: New College Of Florida decided to introduce athletics to the school last year. We began with a few sports and then added more this season, and will add six more programs next fall, with men's and women's tennis being two of them. It was a natural choice to add tennis to the department, as the Sarasota/Bradenton area has a rich history in the sport. The IMG Academy is about 15 minutes from campus, and there are many clubs in the area which promote a love for tennis. We felt it was a great opportunity to offer a college team to local players as well as players from within the state and beyond.

What made you take this job?

JM: I have been coaching tennis for over 40 years (18 as a club pro and director and 23 years as a college coach, with the last 18 years at the D1 level) and was excited by the idea of starting a program from scratch. How often do we get to create something from its infancy nowadays? This allows me to form a foundation and a culture right away, and to shape a family that will have the privilege of being the first-ever team at NCF. My wife, Julie, has always been an integral part of every team I've coached, and so I am also looking forward to her helping to establish this "home-away-from-home" feeling within our program.

How will you approach recruiting?

JM: I have been recruiting for one month now, and have had a lot of interest already. My approach to recruiting has been to share my vision for the men's and women's teams and to show each recruit this unique opportunity to be a part of a brand new program. Our first team will lay the foundation for the future and will create an immediate legacy. Sarasota is also a selling point in itself. We have amazing weather year-round, a great tennis community, tournaments everywhere, great competition with area teams, and of course - amazing beaches.

What does the program have to offer recruits?

JM: First, I believe that my experience as a coach, especially at the D1 level, will help recruits see that we will run this program in a very efficient manner. Practices will be created with purpose and will be challenging. But we will also have fun and enjoy the process of growing together. NCF also has an incredible financial package for their student-athletes. We offer in-state tuition to most everyone. We also offer generous academic and athletic aid. All of our players will pay no more than $6-15k per year, and our top players will receive full rides. We will also have a brand new eight-court facility built on campus next year. Academically, NCF has been one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country for quite a while, so our players will receive an incredible education to go along with an amazing athletic experience.

What are your goals for the inaugural season?

JM: I am used to being a part of winning programs, so I expect no less here. Our goals are to make an immediate impact at the NAIA national level and to be competitive within our conference right away. The Sun Conference consists of great coaches and teams, so we will have the opportunity to compete against some of the best in the country, right in our own backyard. But most importantly, I want to create an incredible college experience for my players. I want them to feel at home and to think of the team as their family. I also want them to enjoy the art of growing and learning and competing for others - for their family. Results will take care of itself, but the process is what it's all about.

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].