ORLANDO – The UCF men's tennis team has hired Gary Needelman to be an assistant coach prior to the upcoming 2022-23 season.
"I am really excited to have Gary joining UCF tennis," said Director of Tennis and men's tennis head coach John Roddick. "He brings a wealth of experience and success; we can't wait to get started."
Needelman brings 25 years of experience having coached at every level in the tennis industry while holding titles of head coach, director of tennis, head professional and assistant coach. Collegiately, he was a men's tennis assistant coach at South Florida during the most successful period in the school's history. From 2015-2018 Gary helped South Florida win four-consecutive American Athletic Conference championships, reach the conference tournament finals in five-consecutive years, and advance to Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Needelman coached three NCAA All-Americans and two AAC Players of the Year while at South Florida which achieved a program-high national ranking of 13 in 2016. In 2018, he helped secure the 15th-ranked recruiting class in the country. In 2019, Needelman moved to assist with the South Florida women's team and once again reached the AAC Tournament championship match.
Just prior to coming to UCF Gary was Head Coach and Director of Tennis for nearby Trinity Preparatory School where he oversaw six interscholastic teams and led the Saints varsity boys team to the FHSAA State Final Four for the only time in school history. In his career Needelman has coached four prep teams into the Florida state championship tournament and mentored numerous individual state champions.
As a private coach Needelman has worked with players of all levels including several current touring professionals. In 2021 he helped guide Roberto Cid to an ATP Challenger Tour semifinal at the tour's Orlando event. Many of Needelman's former students are now successful teaching professionals as well, working everywhere from private clubs to international academies and major Division I college teams.
Gary was trained as a tennis teaching professional by renowned coach Steve Smith and served as head pro in the Tennissmith Academy while based at the Country Club of Carrollwood in Tampa. Multiple players from that group went on to lucrative professional careers including 2022 French Open doubles finalist Austin Krajicek and 2003 NCAA national champion Ryler DeHeart. Needelman also served as Director of Tennis for the CCC for 12 years.
A native of Miami Beach and graduate of Florida State University, Needelman lives in Dr. Phillips with his wife Robin, stepchildren Logan and Ian and multiple rescue animals.
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