POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist Director of Athletics
Tim Murray has announced the hiring of
Gary Sussman as head women's tennis coach.
"We're very excited to have Gary as part of our Marist head coaching family," Murray said. "I'm confident he will work hard toward our goal of winning a MAAC championship and providing our student-athletes with an outstanding academic experience."
Sussman brings a long history of tennis experience to Marist. A teaching professional at various venues in the Hudson Valley, Sussman has also been a USTA competitive 4.0 league player for more than 20 years, playing first and second singles. Along with his local success in tennis, Sussman's coaching experience also runs close to home, coaching his daughter Brynn in high school and college. Brynn graduated in 2015 from Oneonta State as women's tennis' all-time leader in total wins and singles wins.
Sussman is also a certified USTA and ITA roving umpire, along with umpiring the 2017 NYS Eastern Section Regional, Sectional State tournament, Super 6 Boys 16 and under junior tournament, and Super 6 Girls 14 and under junior tournament.
"I am very excited for this opportunity", said Sussman. "Marist is a tremendous academic environment with great student-athletes, and I am looking forward to the upcoming MAAC tennis campaign."
Along with his teaching experience, Sussman has been a press conference moderator at the U.S. Open for the past two years for the opening rounds through finals for men and women.
Sussman also brings more than three decades of media experience to Marist, including 20 years with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, where he was Vice President of Public Relations. Gary was also the public address announcer for two decades in New Jersey, the longest tenure of any announcer in Nets' franchise history.
The Marist women's tennis team went 5-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition in the 2016-17 season. The Red Foxes qualified for the conference championships as the #3 seed. The program has made four NCAA Tournament appearances in its history: 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013.
