Reporter: William Quincy

For the first time in more than two decades, Iona Men’s Tennis is back.

The program, which was disbanded in 2003, is entering a new chapter as a Division I program this season. While the team is new to the current Iona athletic landscape, its return represents more than simply adding another sport to the roster. It is an opportunity to rebuild a program, create a new identity and become part of the Iona community for years to come.

According to Iona Director of Athletics Matt Glovaski, the return of tennis became possible in large part because of the addition of the Bronxville campus and its athletic facilities.

“We had a very successful tennis program that was disbanded in the early 2000s,” Glovaski said. “But I think most importantly, obviously, with the addition of the Bronxville campus, there is an athletic facility with an indoor tennis facility as part of it.”

The new facilities give the program the ability to provide its student-athletes with the resources needed to compete at the Division I level. Glovaski said the opportunity also made sense because of the number of schools that already sponsor tennis in the Metro Conference.

However, preparing for the revival went far beyond finding a place for the team to practice. Iona hired head coach Katia Bogomolova, who brought both playing and coaching experience to the position. Glovaski said the goal was to build a foundation that could support the program both immediately and in the future.

For the players joining the team, being part of a first-year program offers an opportunity few college athletes ever get: the chance to help create something from the ground up.

“I also think there’s something really cool to be part of a new program,” Glovaski said. “You know, you kind of get to be part of building legacy and kind of setting the foundation for where the program will be.”

That process will not happen overnight. With a new roster, coaching staff and team identity, the first season will be about establishing a culture and laying the groundwork for future success.

“You’re not going to be able to win the conference championship on day one of a new program,” Glovaski said. “There’s going to be a lot of things that have to happen over the course of the first semester, the second semester, all those important building blocks.”

That patience could be especially important as the team finds its place within Iona and the Metro Conference. The program’s success will ultimately be measured by more than wins and losses.

Glovaski said Iona evaluates its student-athletes through four pillars: academics, athletics, community and life. For men’s tennis, that means representing the school both on and off the court.

“They’re going to be great ambassadors in the community,” Glovaski said. “And so they understand what it means to be a student athlete and the privilege of giving back to those in the community.”

For a program returning after 23 years, the first season is about more than a record. It is about building something that can last and thrive in Iona Athletics.

Iona men’s tennis is not simply making a comeback. It is almost like a new birth, giving the Iona community a chance to watch a new legacy take shape.