Justin DeSanto Hired as John Kenfield and Chuck Kinyon Head Coach of Men’s Tennis

HANOVER, N.H. — Mike Harrity, Dartmouth's Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation, has announced the hiring of Justin DeSanto as the John Kenfield and Chuck Kinyon Head Coach of Men's Tennis.

"When we spoke to top coaches across the country, Justin's name kept coming up – and after my first conversation with him, I understood why," Harrity said. "From Yale to Williams to Wichita State and most recently orchestrating a remarkable turnaround at UAB, Justin has demonstrated a tireless work ethic and an uncommon drive for excellence. He embraces his role as an educator who will help student-athletes maximize their full potential both on and off the court. We couldn't be more excited to welcome Justin and Meredith to Dartmouth."

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"Justin DeSanto is a proven winner! He is a fierce competitor who always finds a way to get the job done and help maximize his team's potential. He played an instrumental role in our team's rise to the top 30 in the country at Wichita State and was with me there from Day One. I have no doubt that the future is bright for Dartmouth men's tennis with Justin as their leader."

— Danny Bryan, LSU Men's Tennis Coach

"Justin possesses an infectious passion for the game of tennis and a dedication to his student-athletes. At every institution he has coached, Justin has elevated that program and helped lead his players to new heights. I'm excited for this next chapter for Dartmouth men's tennis."

— Alison Swain, USC Women's Tennis Coach

"Dartmouth is getting a phenomenal coach and one of the up-and-coming stars in our profession. Justin has established himself as a tenacious recruiter and strong developer of talent. He will turn Dartmouth into an Ivy League power in the coming years."

— Ryan Sachire, Notre Dame Men's Tennis Coach

"Dartmouth found the perfect coaching fit. Justin is a world-class recruiter and has achieved success with other top academic programs. Most importantly, he connects deeply with his players and they love to compete for him. The future is bright for the Big Green!"

— Adam Schaechterle, Pepperdine Men's Tennis Coach

"Dartmouth just hired an awesome coach. When Justin worked with us at Williams, I was so impressed with his ability to soak up knowledge and share it with our team. He was a great communicator and coach, and he's only gotten better since then. His hunger to learn and grow in every way has clearly translated to his players wanting to grow as student-athletes, as proven at every program he's been at in the last 10 years."

— Dan Greenberg, Williams Men's Tennis Coach

DeSanto joins the Big Green after spending two seasons as the head coach at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), having recently led the Blazers to their first year-end ITA ranking (No. 70) since 2012 in the 2023 season. UAB's 21-7 showing marked a 13-win turnaround from the previous season, DeSanto's first at the helm. The Blazers garnered three All-CUSA honorees in 2023, headlined by Michal Lusovsky's first-team selection. Roman Postolka and Nika Puric both received second-team accolades.

UAB's progress under DeSanto's guidance was also marked by signature victories, such as a pair of triumphs over ranked teams during the resurgent 2023 campaign. Lusovsky and Postolka knocked off the No. 54-ranked doubles team in the nation in a 2022 CUSA quarterfinal match with No. 18 Middle Tennessee, and the Blazers made a run to the conference semifinal this past spring thanks to their 4-3 victory over No. 62 Rice. In addition to on-court success, DeSanto's squad posted the highest grade point average among all UAB programs in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

"I would like to start by thanking Mike Harrity for this amazing opportunity to lead the Dartmouth men's tennis team," DeSanto said. "Throughout the process, Mike was incredibly passionate when sharing his vision for Dartmouth Athletics as a whole. His unmatched passion and trust in me to lead the program has me excited to get to work!

"I would also like to thank the search committee: Taurian Houston, Kristine Fowler and Richard Whitmore. After arriving to campus and meeting the committee members, it was apparent to my wife Meredith and I that this is where we belong. We look forward to arriving in the Upper Valley and calling it our new home. While still young, the current roster brings back a lot of experience and talent. I can't wait to not only help lead these young men, but also learn from them as we work together to build on an already remarkable brand that is Dartmouth men's tennis!"

DeSanto previously spent five seasons at Wichita State as an assistant coach. During his time with the Shockers, the 2012 Wilkes University graduate helped the team climb as high as No. 29 in the ITA rankings, the highest mark for the program since 1982-83. In his final season with Wichita State, DeSanto earned 2021 ITA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors. The Shockers recorded a pair of top-30 victories in his last season on Danny Bryan's staff against No. 22 Memphis and No. 28 Pepperdine.

DeSanto's ability to help student-athletes develop into strong competitors was displayed throughout his time with the Shockers. He aided Murkel Dellien to a career-high No. 35 national ranking, along with an AAC Player of the Year honor during the 2020-21 season. He also helped coach the doubles tandem of Dellien and Marius Frosa to All-America status and a quarterfinal appearance at the NCAA Tournament in 2019.

DeSanto previously served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's tennis teams at Division III Williams College for two seasons (2014-16), where he was named the 2016 ITA Northeast Assistant Coach of the Year. The Ephs' women's team, which won the 2015 national title and was runner-up in 2016, picked up several individual accolades, including 11 All-America honors, the 2015 Division III Senior Player of the Year and the 2016 ITA Most Improved Player.

No stranger to the Ivy League, DeSanto spent the 2013-14 season as a volunteer assistant coach at Yale. The Bulldogs finished second in the Ivy League, while DeSanto helped guide two student-athletes to First Team All-Ivy honors and a doubles tandem to Second Team All-Ivy status.

A native of Pittston, Pennsylvania, DeSanto received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wilkes University in 2012 before starting his collegiate coaching career at Division III Marywood University.

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