University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Tennis
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- christian.appleman@uconn.edu
Christian Appleman will begin his second season leading the Huskies in the fall of 2020-21. In the summer of 2019, UConn Director of Tennis Glenn Marshall announced that Appleman would be coming to UConn as the Associate Head Coach for the men’s tennis program. Appleman brings 15 years of coaching experience at Yale University to his new role in Storrs.
“I am very proud to be associated with the University of Connecticut athletic department and I want to thank Corrie Schantz, Glenn Marshall and the members of the search committee for entrusting me with leading the UConn men’s tennis program,” stated Appleman. “During my brief time with the players on Monday, they have already demonstrated they are organized, motivated and have tremendous respect for their fellow teammates and the university. These young men will be fun to work with and I cannot wait to get started.”
Appleman makes the trip upstate after serving as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs under head coach Alex Dorato since 2005. In addition to his coaching duties, Appleman severed as Yale’s director of tennis operations and assistant director of athletic facilities.
Additionally, he served as men's and women's assistant tennis coach at his alma mater, Penn State University from 1994 to 1996. During this time, he was also the head teaching professional and the Director of Tennis Operations at the Penn State Tennis Center.
“I am very excited to welcome Christian to our men’s tennis program,” commented Marshall. “He is an experienced coach, with over 14 years at Yale as an assistant coach. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the position, and we are looking forward to having him lead our program into the future.”
As a student-athlete, Appleman spent four seasons on the PSU varsity tennis team and helped the Nittany Lions win the Atlantic 10 title in 1986, playing alongside three current Division I head coaches: Dwayne Hultquist (Florida State), John Mercer (Marshall) and Adam Steinberg (Michigan). Appleman also played four seasons of varsity basketball, was the basketball team captain in 1988-89 (20-12 record, NIT 2nd round) and was a two-time winner of the Lou Lamie Nittany Lion Coaches Award (1986, 1987) and named the team's Most Inspirational Player (1988, 1989). He graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and political science in 1990.
In addition to his tennis resume, Appleman has a combined 13 years of Division I men's and women's basketball assistant coaching experience between stints at Penn State, Army and Yale. He saw much success with the PSU programs, helping the 2001 men and the 1992 women reach the Sweet 16. The men reached two NIT final fours (1998, 2000).
His wife, Erin Appleman, is currently in her 17th season as the head coach of the Yale volleyball team.
