June 13, 2002

Contact: Kerry Van Malderghem

Phone: (315) 228-7566

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Colgate University athletics director Mark Murphy has announced that Martin Perry has been named the head men's and women's tennis coach. Perry replaces Bob Dallis who earlier accepted the position of head women's coach at Dartmouth.

Perry comes to Hamilton from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. where he served as the assistant men's tennis coach for three and a half years. During his time there, Perry was involved in recruiting, designing team and individual practices, and developing and overseeing a team conditioning program for the nationally ranked tennis program. The Tribe made the NCAA Tournament in 1999 with a 17-11 record and Perry assisted in coaching two ITA nationally ranked singles players, five ITA nationally ranked doubles teams and two ITA Academic All-Americans. He also served as Co-Director of a Nike Tennis Camp (1998) and the PP&D Tennis Camp (1999-2002), as well as Assistant Director of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's National Summer Championship Tournament held at William & Mary. 

In addition, Perry traveled extensively to recruit at USTA Super National Junior Tournaments and played a key role in bringing in the most talented recruiting class in the Tribe's men's tennis history with players ranked 13th, 30th, 70th, 125th, and 215th in Boy's 18s.

“I am very excited with the opportunity to become the new tennis coach at Colgate," Perry said.  "I appreciate all the time and energy the search committee invested in me during the interview. Upon conclusion, I knew immediately that Colgate was a place where I wanted to coach. I look forward to building on the strong foundation put in place by Bob Dallis. From my experiences at William & Mary, I feel I am fully prepared and qualified to excel in all facets of the position. Because of the similarities of both institutions, high academic and athletic standards, I will be recruiting the highest quality student-athletes in the country. I am excited to meet the players and begin a new era of Raider tennis.”

"I think Marty Perry will do a great job for us," Murphy said.  "He is highly regarded in the tennis community, and his experience at William & Mary will allow him to make a smooth transition to Colgate.  He should be able to build on the great foundation that Bob Dallis established with both of our tennis teams."

Perry has additional experience as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H. and at the Van der Meer Tennis University in Hilton Head, S.C. as well as the head tennis pro at Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, Va.

Perry graduated from Cleveland State University with a B.A. in history in 1998. He is married to the former Ellen Renee and they have two sons, Mitchell and Camden.

TRANSACTIONS: Colgate - Named Martin Perry head tennis coach.