NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Mount Saint Mary College Athletic Director Samantha Howe has announced the hiring of Dennis Maher as its next Head Tennis Coach. A Mount alumnus with more than a decade of varsity tennis coaching experience, Maher will lead both the Knights' men's and women's tennis programs.
Maher brings an extensive background in tennis, education, and youth sports development to the Mount. He served as the Head Boys Tennis Coach at Newburgh Free Academy from 2012-2022, leading the Goldbacks to seven league championships in nine seasons. In 2016, his program received national recognition as the Team Connection High School Tennis Team of the Year.
In addition to his high school coaching experience, Maher has remained heavily involved in tennis development throughout the Orange County community. Since 2020, he has served as the Founder and Executive Director of Orange County Aces, Inc., a nonprofit NJTL and CTA organization focused on expanding access to tennis for underserved youth.
"I'm thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to become the Head Tennis Coach at Mount Saint Mary College," Maher said. "The Mount's commitment to developing the whole person through academic excellence, leadership, service, and personal growth aligns very closely with my own philosophy as a coach."
"I've always believed that coaching is about much more than wins and losses. It's about helping young people develop confidence, character, resilience, and a belief in what they can accomplish. I'm excited to build a program that reflects those values, competes at a high level, and gives our student-athletes an experience they can be proud of both on and off the court."
Maher earned his bachelor's degree in English from Mount Saint Mary College, where he was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. He holds a USPTA Certified Tennis Coach designation, which he has maintained since 2020, as well as a New York State High School Coaching Certification dating back to 2004. His honors include the USTA Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award in 2016 and the USTA Fran Osei Community Service Award in 2023.
"We are thrilled to welcome MSMC graduate Coach Dennis Maher to the program as our new tennis coach," said Mount Saint Mary College Director of Athletics Samantha Howe. "With his strong background in player development and competitive strategy, Coach Dennis is ready to lead our student-athletes and elevate both our men's and women's tennis programs to the next level. Please join us in giving Dennis a warm welcome as he steps onto the court this season!"
