Pennington’s Head Coaching Pipeline
HAMILTON – Head men's and women's tennis coach Bobby Pennington has a stellar reputation for mentoring some of the finest student-athletes in the Patriot League. But in Pennington's 18 seasons at the helm in Hamilton Colgate has also been a hotbed for up-and-coming coaches, ushering eight former assistants into head coaching positions.
"One of the things I'm proudest of in my nearly 20-year tenure is the development of my assistant coaches into big-time head ball coaches," Pennington said. "It speaks to the culture, loyalty and dedication to themselves, the players, and myself."
Below are the former Colgate assistants listed with their head coaching destinations:
Rose Ketmayura
Years at Colgate: 2006-08
Head Coaching Roles: Long Island University (2014-2016), Southern Utah University (2017-2019)
Matt Tyler
Years at Colgate: 2008-2009
Head Coaching Role: Bradley University (2009 - Present)
Courtney Vernon
Years at Colgate: 2010-2012
Head Coaching Role: Florida Gulf Coast University (2013 - Present)
Jamie Nelson Scott
Years at Colgate: 2013-14
Head Coaching Role: Denison University (2016 - Present)
AJ Nelson
Years at Colgate: 2014
Head Coaching Role: Skidmore College (2024)
Sarah Lytle
Years at Colgate: 2014-15
Head Coaching Role: Hillsborough Community College (2017 - Present)
Jeff Lonczak
Years at Colgate: 2014-15
Head Coaching Role: Le Moyne (2015 - Present)
Olivia Leavitt
Years at Colgate: 2020-22
Head Coaching Role: Lehigh University (2022 - Present)
Latest Women's Tennis
- 2025 Spring Schedules Announced for Colgate AthleticsHAMILTON – The 2024-25 schedule vault continues with 10 spring sports unveiling their competition slates, including golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's rowing, softball, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's track and field.
- Raiders Compete at Patriot League Individual TournamentWEST POINT N.Y. – Colgate competed at the ITA Patriot League Masters Tournament with a trip to NCAA Individuals on the line. Senior captain Addie Eklund, junior Amelia Galin, and sophomore Sophia Montero all represented the Raiders at West Point, with Montero standing out winning her first round singles match.
- Women’s Tennis Competes at ITA RegionalsHARVARD, Mass. – The women's tennis team competed at the ITA Division I New England Regional Championships, finishing with a 1-5 overall record after three days of play. The Raiders had two singles entrants, along with two doubles teams who took part.
- Women’s Tennis Hosts Colgate InvitationalHAMILTON- The women's tennis team hosted a successful home invitational, finishing with an overall record of 21-20 across two days of play against Le Moyne, Siena, and Niagara. Junior Amelia Galin and sophomore Sophia Montero teamed up to win the top flight doubles title on Sunday, ending the tournament on a positive note.
- Raiders Dominate at Bloomsburg InviteThe women's tennis team had an incredibly successful weekend at the Bloomsburg invitational, finishing with a 44-7 record over the course of the three-day tournament. The stout start to the fall season was highlighted by undefeated campaigns from senior captain Eliza Podlas, sophomores Sophia Montero and Gigi Bohan, and first-year Rebecca Hess.
- Women’s Tennis Gears up for Fall ActionHAMILTON – The women's tennis team prepares for their first action of the fall season, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 7th in Bloomsburg, Pa. They look to build on an 11 win 2024 campaign, marking a streak of three winning seasons in a row. The squad returns all nine letter winners from last season, while also gaining two new freshmen who hope to make an immediate impact.
