News
May 13, 2015Jim Serbalik Retiring As Head Men’s Tennis Coach
Serbalik Coached Saints for 26 Seasons
Jim Serbalik has retired as head men’s tennis coach at Siena College after 26 years of service. Serbalik developed a program with a reputation for bringing in student athletes who were committed to contributing to the Siena community and graduating with the skillset necessary to make a difference in the world.
“I would like to thank all the people who supported me and the program over the years – from athletic department staff, to the women’s tennis coaches, opposing MAAC coaches, registrar staff, my family and most of all the student athletes,” Serbalik said. “It has been a great run!”
Serbalik’s teams were always among the department’s top performing in the classroom. Over his 26 years, men’s tennis posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or better in 50 of 52 semesters. Those student athletes who played four years for Serbalik graduated at a 100% rate.
“I would like to thank Coach Serbalik for his 26 years of service as Siena’s head men’s tennis coach,” director of athletics John D’Argenio said. “Jim has always approached each season with the best interest of the students first and foremost. He always strived to make sure his players graduated from Siena and grew as young men.”
Serbalik was honored as the 2007 MAAC Tennis Coach of the Year, but his success is perhaps best illustrated by the accomplishments of his program’s alumni. Siena men’s tennis alumni who played for Serbalik include: eight doctors, five lawyers, seven education executives/teachers, 15 business/finance executives, six CPA’s, and 12 professional leaders in other fields. Each fall dozens of alumni return to Siena with their families to see their former teammates, meet the current team and most of all reunite with Serbalik.
“Coach Serbalik is truly one of a kind,” Jeffrey R. Uzzilia ‘98, MD said. “He is one of those select coaches who truly cares about each player as a student, an athlete, and a person. Coach is extremely competitive, but his greatest pride came not from winning matches, but from seeing the life successes of his players. I am truly grateful for the opportunity he gave me, and for everything he taught me as both a player and a person.”
D’Argenio indicated a search to find Serbalik’s successor is in progress.
