From Brandeis University Athletics
Former assistant coach and current Wheaton College head coach Pauri Pandian has been named to take over as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Brandeis University, incoming director of athletics Lauren Haynie announced today.
"Pauri stood out from a field of highly qualified candidates," Haynie said. "Besides his success developing players on the court, both at Brandeis and at Wheaton, he has demonstrated a true understanding of what it means to be part of a campus community. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Waltham."
In four years from 2015 to 2019 as the head coach at Wheaton, Pandian's teams totaled 59 combined wins, reaching the semifinals of the NEWMAC tournament with both the men's and women's teams in both 2018 and 2019. He helped the Lyons develop the 2019 NEWMAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Year, Ines DeBracamonte. Wheaton teams also earned the ITA's All-Academic Team Award three times in his tenure. Off the court, Pandian's teams have been involved with Team IMPACT and the Greater Norton Food Bank.
"I am honored and thrilled to lead the charge as the next head coach of Brandeis Tennis," Pandian said. "My experience at Brandeis as an assistant shaped me as a coach and a person, and I am excited to lead the teams forward as we compete for UAA and NCAA championships.
"I want to thank Lisa Lynch, Lauren Haynie, and Jeff Ward for entrusting in me the future of Brandeis Tennis. I also want to thank Lisa Yenush, Kate McCaffrey, and John Sutyak for their continued support throughout my time with Wheaton Tennis. Lastly, I need to thank Ben Lamanna for mentoring and teaching me what it means to be a great coach. It's a privilege and an honor to follow in his footsteps, and I am excited to lead Brandeis Tennis in this exciting new chapter."
Pandian was an assistant coach under Lamanna at Brandeis for four years from 2011 through 2015. In his final season with the Judges as an assistant, Pandian was named the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Division III Coach of the Year for women's tennis and was the Northeast Regional Coach of the Year for both the men and women. During his tenure, the Brandeis women were nationally-ranked each year, and Carley Cooke '15 graduated as the Judges' most decorated women's tennis player in program history, winning five All-America honors. The Brandeis men also had numerous All-University Athletic Association honorees during that span.
Prior to Brandeis, Pandian served as the head coach Beaver Country Day School in Brookline.
Pandian will be taking over two Brandeis tennis teams coming off their most successful seasons in decades. The Brandeis men finished the 2019 season ranked No. 8 in Division III, while the women were No. 10 after reaching the NCAA tournament regional finals in their first-ever postseason berth. The men finished in second place in the University Athletic Association, while the women were fourth.
Pandian graduated from Wesleyan University in 2008, double majoring in English and Religion. A four-year starter and captain his senior year, Pauri played in every spot in the singles and doubles lineup throughout his career.