The Calumet College of St. Joseph athletic department announces the hire of Patrick Leser as its new head men’s and women’s tennis coach. Leser becomes the third head tennis coach for the Crimson Wave program taking over for Steve Cavazos who coached for CCSJ during the past eight seasons.
“Coach Leser arrives to CCSJ with the opportunity to lead and motivate a group of talented players who are also very dedicated to their academic work within the classroom,” states Athletic Director Peter Haze Haring.
Leser arrives to CCSJ with over twenty-five years of tennis experience as a player, coach and instructor. He will continue to serve his full-time role at Ivy Tech Community College while coaching for the Crimson Wave. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Purdue University Calumet and a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies (Psychology concentration) from Valparaiso University. Coach Leser is also certified by the USPTR.
Enthusiastically Leser says, “My 30 years of playing, instructing and coaching tennis in Northwest Indiana will help attract more quality tennis players to CCSJ's teams because of the relationships I have with local high school coaches. I am also acquainted with some of the college tennis coaches within the CCAC and Chicagoland area. I believe my instructional and competitive experiences will improve the individual games for each players on CCSJ's tennis teams, as well as serve CCSJ's mission of developing players' academic, spiritual and ethical development.”
According to Haring, “Coach Cavazos recruited a strong group of talented tennis player during his tenure and his commitment to CCSJ was excellent. Now Coach Leser will have the opportunity to build upon the foundation left by Steve which is a good position to start from as a new head coach.”
Coach Leser continues to elaborate, “Having worked in education in the Calumet Region for quite some time, I am very aware of CCSJ’s reputation as a high quality Catholic institution which is attractive enough; but the fact that the previous outstanding coaches before me, Gary Hayes and Steve Cavazos (with Ofelia Madrigal), each put in a number of years at CCSJ speaks to the quality of the Crimson Wave athletic program. I’m honored to follow in their footsteps.”
“I believe Coach Leser’s personality will have a positive impact on our student-athletes. His experience within the sport of tennis and in higher education will provide our students a leader who can provide a quality collegiate experience,” says Haring. He goes continues to state, “CCSJ has hired another strong person of character and commitment to the mission of the College and the continued success of the Crimson Wave Athletic Department. Patrick has a good vision for our tennis program and I know he will lead out student-athletes towards new achievements.”