Recently SienaSaints.com sat down to chat with new women's tennis head coach Andy Christodoulou who recently completed his first season with the Saints.

SienaSaints.com: Tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Siena.

Andy Christodoulou: I have been teaching private and group lessons to adults and juniors at Tri-City Fitness and Tennis. During my daughter's tennis playing years I started coaching her USTA Tennis Team and I realized that was something I wanted to pursue. After acquiring more experience from a decade of USTA and World Team Tennis coordinator work I felt I was ready. My involvement in the local tennis community which is interwoven in the Siena community brought me closer to the Siena job. The ultimate experience came from been a father of two daughters one in College at Marist and one a senior at Shaker High-school.

SS: What was your experience like in your first season with the program?

AC: It was like a lot of everything and a lot of anything!!! Jim Serbalik called me as soon as he found out I got the job last September and he said to me "the first season will be peculiar"... and certainly was. Some coaches come in to a program and make a lot of changes right away. I took a different approach since I was not familiar with the program or most of players in it. There was a lot of evaluation going on and trying to build relationships and long term foundations for the program in order to implement team policies and work as a team. On another note Denisa Hluchova was the best assistant coach I could have asked for. She played for the team between 2002 and 2006. She was a big help at practice and games. She was able to connect with the players from the "player prospective". We work great together and we bounce ideas off each other on how to improve from daily operations to practices to games and everything in-between.

SS: What's your favorite part of coaching tennis at Siena?

AC: Well first when I started I thought it was going to be the tennis portion of the job but after the first two weeks into it I realized that the relationships and bonding you build with the players as a team with common goals and the team comradory is my favorite part. You see them mature so much in an 8 month span and I got overwhelmed when I saw my seniors graduate. I know it sounds corny but it is life. All the players on this team understand that team comes first and that makes my job so much easier. It will be unfair if I did not mention that I also enjoyed the team dinners and outings we had.

SS: What can Siena tennis fans look forward to this season?

AC: This season we will be leaner and meaner team, watch out!! All the starters are back and we also signed a proven winner Carly Holloway who has a vast USTA tournament experience in. Last season we finished 4th in the MAAC. We are going to work on improving our overall record as well as the MAAC positioning. This is necessary since only the top four teams will make the yearend tourney in 2011. Each lady brings something unique to this team and my work is to put it together in order to be successful as a team.

SS: What do you think separates the Siena and its tennis program from its competition?

AC: The players first, the Siena Community second and the Athletic Department. The players are the best student athletes in the MAAC. These young ladies love tennis, know when to have fun, when to put their game face on and certainly how to get the results on the court and more importantly in the classroom. This season seven of them were recognized by NCAA for their high academic standards!!! The Community is so involved with Siena Athletics. From the local Tennis Club (Tri-City Tennis and Fitness), to the parents and relatives of the players, the alumni, to Mr. Tourchy who brought us water to our practice on a hot Sunday afternoon it just comes together around the team like a shield of care and love. As far as the College and the Athletic Department is concerned, this place is a class act above most D-I programs. I have been very pleasantly surprised with the excellence and the high standards.

SS: What type of student-athlete are you looking to bring into your program?

AC: Always looking at the prospective student-athletes demeanor and character first and then the tennis skills. Our schools admissions standards are so good that I know the athletes I get will be high quality students. I am looking for students that are willing to push themselves in the classroom and on the court. I am looking for students that will be able to balance their academics with the demanding tennis schedule. I am looking for students that will put the team first.

SS: What do you demand of your players?

AC: Practice hard and with a purpose. I will push them hard at practice beyond what they think they are capable of doing. Leave everything on the court during matches and play with control intensity. Be respectful to your opponent but show no fear.

SS: What are few team goals you have set for this year's team?

AC: Our primary goal is always to represent the College, Athletic Department, and ourselves well. Specifically, we want to improve our record from last year.

SS: Have you started recruiting for 2011-12 season?

AC: I am working on a few prospects that I feel will be a great fit to the Siena Women's Team, the College and the Siena Community. I will be in full recruiting gear after July 1, 2010. I am going to explore every option and continue to evaluate if there's someone out there that I think can help us. Again, we want to get the right kind of student-athlete that will fit in the concept of the College and the team.

SS: What are some of your interests outside of Siena Women's Tennis?

AC: I like to spend time with family and friends, play tennis and work in my yard.

Recently SienaSaints.com sat down to chat with new women's tennis head coach Andy Christodoulou who recently completed his first season with the Saints.

SienaSaints.com: Tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Siena.

Andy Christodoulou: I have been teaching private and group lessons to adults and juniors at Tri-City Fitness and Tennis. During my daughter's tennis playing years I started coaching her USTA Tennis Team and I realized that was something I wanted to pursue. After acquiring more experience from a decade of USTA and World Team Tennis coordinator work I felt I was ready. My involvement in the local tennis community which is interwoven in the Siena community brought me closer to the Siena job. The ultimate experience came from been a father of two daughters one in College at Marist and one a senior at Shaker High-school.

SS: What was your experience like in your first season with the program?

AC: It was like a lot of everything and a lot of anything!!! Jim Serbalik called me as soon as he found out I got the job last September and he said to me "the first season will be peculiar"... and certainly was. Some coaches come in to a program and make a lot of changes right away. I took a different approach since I was not familiar with the program or most of players in it. There was a lot of evaluation going on and trying to build relationships and long term foundations for the program in order to implement team policies and work as a team. On another note Denisa Hluchova was the best assistant coach I could have asked for. She played for the team between 2002 and 2006. She was a big help at practice and games. She was able to connect with the players from the "player prospective". We work great together and we bounce ideas off each other on how to improve from daily operations to practices to games and everything in-between.

SS: What's your favorite part of coaching tennis at Siena?

AC: Well first when I started I thought it was going to be the tennis portion of the job but after the first two weeks into it I realized that the relationships and bonding you build with the players as a team with common goals and the team comradory is my favorite part. You see them mature so much in an 8 month span and I got overwhelmed when I saw my seniors graduate. I know it sounds corny but it is life. All the players on this team understand that team comes first and that makes my job so much easier. It will be unfair if I did not mention that I also enjoyed the team dinners and outings we had.

SS: What can Siena tennis fans look forward to this season?

AC: This season we will be leaner and meaner team, watch out!! All the starters are back and we also signed a proven winner Carly Holloway who has a vast USTA tournament experience in. Last season we finished 4th in the MAAC. We are going to work on improving our overall record as well as the MAAC positioning. This is necessary since only the top four teams will make the yearend tourney in 2011. Each lady brings something unique to this team and my work is to put it together in order to be successful as a team.

SS: What do you think separates the Siena and its tennis program from its competition?

AC: The players first, the Siena Community second and the Athletic Department. The players are the best student athletes in the MAAC. These young ladies love tennis, know when to have fun, when to put their game face on and certainly how to get the results on the court and more importantly in the classroom. This season seven of them were recognized by NCAA for their high academic standards!!! The Community is so involved with Siena Athletics. From the local Tennis Club (Tri-City Tennis and Fitness), to the parents and relatives of the players, the alumni, to Mr. Tourchy who brought us water to our practice on a hot Sunday afternoon it just comes together around the team like a shield of care and love. As far as the College and the Athletic Department is concerned, this place is a class act above most D-I programs. I have been very pleasantly surprised with the excellence and the high standards.

SS: What type of student-athlete are you looking to bring into your program?

AC: Always looking at the prospective student-athletes demeanor and character first and then the tennis skills. Our schools admissions standards are so good that I know the athletes I get will be high quality students. I am looking for students that are willing to push themselves in the classroom and on the court. I am looking for students that will be able to balance their academics with the demanding tennis schedule. I am looking for students that will put the team first.

SS: What do you demand of your players?

AC: Practice hard and with a purpose. I will push them hard at practice beyond what they think they are capable of doing. Leave everything on the court during matches and play with control intensity. Be respectful to your opponent but show no fear.

SS: What are few team goals you have set for this year's team?

AC: Our primary goal is always to represent the College, Athletic Department, and ourselves well. Specifically, we want to improve our record from last year.

SS: Have you started recruiting for 2011-12 season?

AC: I am working on a few prospects that I feel will be a great fit to the Siena Women's Team, the College and the Siena Community. I will be in full recruiting gear after July 1, 2010. I am going to explore every option and continue to evaluate if there's someone out there that I think can help us. Again, we want to get the right kind of student-athlete that will fit in the concept of the College and the team.

SS: What are some of your interests outside of Siena Women's Tennis?

AC: I like to spend time with family and friends, play tennis and work in my yard.

Recently SienaSaints.com sat down to chat with new women's tennis head coach Andy Christodoulou who recently completed his first season with the Saints.

SienaSaints.com: Tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Siena.

Andy Christodoulou: I have been teaching private and group lessons to adults and juniors at Tri-City Fitness and Tennis. During my daughter's tennis playing years I started coaching her USTA Tennis Team and I realized that was something I wanted to pursue. After acquiring more experience from a decade of USTA and World Team Tennis coordinator work I felt I was ready. My involvement in the local tennis community which is interwoven in the Siena community brought me closer to the Siena job. The ultimate experience came from been a father of two daughters one in College at Marist and one a senior at Shaker High-school.

SS: What was your experience like in your first season with the program?

AC: It was like a lot of everything and a lot of anything!!! Jim Serbalik called me as soon as he found out I got the job last September and he said to me "the first season will be peculiar"... and certainly was. Some coaches come in to a program and make a lot of changes right away. I took a different approach since I was not familiar with the program or most of players in it. There was a lot of evaluation going on and trying to build relationships and long term foundations for the program in order to implement team policies and work as a team. On another note Denisa Hluchova was the best assistant coach I could have asked for. She played for the team between 2002 and 2006. She was a big help at practice and games. She was able to connect with the players from the "player prospective". We work great together and we bounce ideas off each other on how to improve from daily operations to practices to games and everything in-between.

SS: What's your favorite part of coaching tennis at Siena?

AC: Well first when I started I thought it was going to be the tennis portion of the job but after the first two weeks into it I realized that the relationships and bonding you build with the players as a team with common goals and the team comradory is my favorite part. You see them mature so much in an 8 month span and I got overwhelmed when I saw my seniors graduate. I know it sounds corny but it is life. All the players on this team understand that team comes first and that makes my job so much easier. It will be unfair if I did not mention that I also enjoyed the team dinners and outings we had.

SS: What can Siena tennis fans look forward to this season?

AC: This season we will be leaner and meaner team, watch out!! All the starters are back and we also signed a proven winner Carly Holloway who has a vast USTA tournament experience in. Last season we finished 4th in the MAAC. We are going to work on improving our overall record as well as the MAAC positioning. This is necessary since only the top four teams will make the yearend tourney in 2011. Each lady brings something unique to this team and my work is to put it together in order to be successful as a team.

SS: What do you think separates the Siena and its tennis program from its competition?

AC: The players first, the Siena Community second and the Athletic Department. The players are the best student athletes in the MAAC. These young ladies love tennis, know when to have fun, when to put their game face on and certainly how to get the results on the court and more importantly in the classroom. This season seven of them were recognized by NCAA for their high academic standards!!! The Community is so involved with Siena Athletics. From the local Tennis Club (Tri-City Tennis and Fitness), to the parents and relatives of the players, the alumni, to Mr. Tourchy who brought us water to our practice on a hot Sunday afternoon it just comes together around the team like a shield of care and love. As far as the College and the Athletic Department is concerned, this place is a class act above most D-I programs. I have been very pleasantly surprised with the excellence and the high standards.

SS: What type of student-athlete are you looking to bring into your program?

AC: Always looking at the prospective student-athletes demeanor and character first and then the tennis skills. Our schools admissions standards are so good that I know the athletes I get will be high quality students. I am looking for students that are willing to push themselves in the classroom and on the court. I am looking for students that will be able to balance their academics with the demanding tennis schedule. I am looking for students that will put the team first.

SS: What do you demand of your players?

AC: Practice hard and with a purpose. I will push them hard at practice beyond what they think they are capable of doing. Leave everything on the court during matches and play with control intensity. Be respectful to your opponent but show no fear.

SS: What are few team goals you have set for this year's team?

AC: Our primary goal is always to represent the College, Athletic Department, and ourselves well. Specifically, we want to improve our record from last year.

SS: Have you started recruiting for 2011-12 season?

AC: I am working on a few prospects that I feel will be a great fit to the Siena Women's Team, the College and the Siena Community. I will be in full recruiting gear after July 1, 2010. I am going to explore every option and continue to evaluate if there's someone out there that I think can help us. Again, we want to get the right kind of student-athlete that will fit in the concept of the College and the team.

SS: What are some of your interests outside of Siena Women's Tennis?

AC: I like to spend time with family and friends, play tennis and work in my yard.