HAMILTON – International Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Damien Prohaska, has been named Colgate University's inaugural head women's tennis coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir '01 announced on Thursday. 

Prohaska joins Colgate after a successful four-year coaching stint at Division III Wellesley College, where he produced two national top-20 recruiting classes in addition to being named the Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the International Tennis Association in 2024-25. 

"Damien demonstrated a commitment to excellence with a vision that aligns with the University's mission. Given his track record of success as a coach both athletically and academically, we are confident in him to lead the Colgate Women's Tennis program," Amir said.

Prohaska most recently guided Wellesley to a 15-4 season with a 7-1 conference record and a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) semifinal appearance. The Blue reached as high as No. 12 in Division III last season, posting five ranked wins and the highest win count since the 2016 season.

Under Prohaska, the 2025 season saw first-year player, Kotistha Modak, reach a high of No. 6 in the Northeast regional singles rankings and captured the program's first NEWMAC Rookie of the Year award in nearly a decade. Prohaska also guided the doubles teams of Kotistha Modak/Sofia Corte-Real and Emilee Pak/Rianna Mariotti to year-end top-50 national rankings in Division III. The 2025 season concluded with Wellesley receiving NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

In Prohaska's four years at Wellesley, the Blue posted a 46-25 (.648) record. He helped produce 15 All-Conference postseason selections, 11 Academic All-Conference honorees, 4 ITA All-Academic Teams, and guided the Blue to 4 consecutive NEWMAC semifinal appearances.

"My family and I could not be more excited to join the Colgate community," Prohaska said. "I would like to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir, Toni Rogers, Mark Wheeler, Coach Bobby Pennington, and the committee for their work and care in bringing this opportunity to reality."

Prohaska joined Wellesley after working as an admissions counselor and athletics liaison at UMass Dartmouth, where he oversaw recruitment and outreach across New England and the Mid-Atlantic region and managed all DIII program recruitment lists.  

Prohaska served as the graduate assistant men's and women's tennis coach from 2018-2020 at Regis College, where he managed recruitment efforts, organized social media campaigns, and developed weekly conditioning and on-court practice plans. Prohaska guided the Pride women's tennis program to two consecutive GNAC semifinal appearances and ITA All-Academic Team honors.

From 2012-2016, Prohaska was a four-year member of the tennis team at SUNY Oneonta in Oneonta, N.Y. Prohaska was named team captain his senior year, highlighted by a 9-2 singles record and guiding the Red Dragons to their highest win count since the 2011-2012 season. Prohaska was also an active member of SUNY Oneonta's Student Athletic Advisory Council and Admissions Ambassador program.

Originally from Binghamton, N.Y., Prohaska received a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication & Media Studies from SUNY Oneonta. He then earned his Master's Degree in Strategic Communication from Regis College in 2020. Prohaska is also a member of the ITA CoachUp Class of 2025 and holds a TPT certification through the International Tennis Performance Association.

Earlier this summer, Colgate announced it will be splitting its men's and women's tennis head coaching responsibilities to provide each team the opportunity to grow, develop, and flourish, under the leadership of a dedicated head coach. With the decision, Bobby Pennington, who just completed his 19th season at the helm of both programs, will continue as the head of the men's team. 

"It is an honor to step in at this critical moment in Colgate Tennis history," Prohaska said. "I am eager to build upon the foundation of academic and athletic excellence that Coach Pennington has laid and work to establish Colgate Women's Tennis as a true contender within the Patriot League. Go, 'gate!"