Phil Baboulis (`84) returned to NJIT as head coach of women's tennis prior to the spring of 2003 and added duties as men's head coach prior to the spring of 2005.
He has improved both programs to the point that they made their mark in 2006-07, NJIT's first season of competition at the NCAA Division I level. The women's team was the most successful of NJIT's programs in the first year at the new level, posting a 14-8 overall record, while the men's team was 10-10.
Although Division I presented new challenges, the teams' success at the new level was not inconsistent with their results at the end of NJIT's Division II era. The women's team had emerged as a regional force in Division II, achieving regional Top 10 ranking for two years running and qualifying for the 2005 NCAA national tournament.
In the fall of 2005, the women were undefeated (6-0) champion of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. In addition, the Highlanders ranked seventh in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Region.
Baboulis has recruited top players, such as Iulia Doci (`09), who was 16-6 in #1 singles competition in 2006-07 as a sophomore in the first season of DI competition. The 2006-07 NJIT Female Athlete of the Year, Doci was conference singles champion and Rookie of the Year, while achieving #3 ranking in the Division II ITA Northeast Ranking as a freshman.
Fatima Kasem (`08) was the 2004-05 ITA Northeast Region Division II Rookie of the Year and both finalists in the 2005 ITA regional "B" singles were NJIT's Deepti Sanjai (`06) and Chiori Koike (`08).
On the men's side, Baboulis has added top players including Steve Erickson (`10), who came to NJIT having been a singles finalist in the 2006 NJ state Tournament of Champions as a high school senior.
A US Professional Tennis Association certified instructor, Baboulis has more than 15 years teaching experience. He is president of USA Tennis, which runs clinics in the towns of Bergenfield, Oradell, Parsippany and Tenafly. He is also a teaching pro at the Tenafly Racquet Club.
Prior to NJIT, Baboulis was the first men's tennis coach at Bergen Community College (1997-99). He also coached boys basketball, assisting longtime mentor Curtis March at Teaneck HS, in a run that included a state sectional title. Baboulis taught mathematics at Lincoln High in Jersey City.
As a player, he won the singles championships at the 1989 Union County Open and the 1990 Westwood Open. He also won a round in the 2000 NJ State Open at the Arlington Players Club in Kearny.
Baboulis, who resides in Bergenfield, played a season of tennis at NJIT before receiving a degree in computer science. His brother, Paul, is a former baseball captain and MVP for the Highlanders.
