Head Coach Adam Cohen has youth on his side, and that doesn’t indicate inexperience. Coach Cohen learned from one of the best teacher’s in the history of junior college tennis in Penny Powell. Mesa Tennis will not miss a beat as Coach Cohen already has a Region I Coach of the Year under his belt for the Men’s Tennis Program in 2009.
Coach Cohen played for MCC in 2005-06 and was a region doubles champion in 2005. His 2006 team finished #10 in the nation.
In high school at Hamilton (AZ), he played varsity all four years, where his team made it to the state quarterfinals in 2002. He personally made it to quarterfinals in 2003. In 2004, Coach Cohen was named Team MVP. Also, in 2004, Cohen advanced to the round of 64 at the U.S. Men’s Hard Court National Open. The progression for this young, aspiring coach is in the numbers.
After graduating from Hamilton with honors, Coach Cohen began working towards a degree in Secondary Education, which he plans on accomplishing in the Fall of 2010.
Cohen was named to the MCC Men’s Tennis coaching staff as an assistant in 2006 under then coach Rebecca Opoien and assumed the head job in 2007 succeeding Opoien. In 2008, Cohen was named Head Coach of the Women’s Program as well, succeeding legendary Coach Penny Powell.
Already in 2009, Coach Cohen’s Men’s Program qualified for Nationals, where they placed 15th.
Not just a tennis coach, Cohen owns and operates his own online business aimed at placing local talent with agents for personal marketing ventures. His business is at www.LegitTalent.com.
Coach Cohen stays busy as a high school basketball official since 2004 and avidly follows all of Arizona’s professional sports teams.
“I want to have the most respected Men’s & Women’s Tennis Program in the nation, led by excellence in the classroom that leads to the court. Mesa Tennis will be in the running for the National Title every year and I plan to hang a banner very soon,” says Cohen.
acohen@mesacc.edu
602-319-3318
Coach Cohen
Men's Tennis 2010
Head Coach Adam Cohen looks to build upon some great strides in 2009. His women’s team went through a rebuilding year and his men’s team finished ranked 15th in the NJCAA polls. The 2010 campaign will get underway February 25 against Paradise Valley Community College.
Returning on the women’s side are Cagney Bustamante, Alexandra Larson, and Randi Villarreal. Bustamante will play either the two or three spot, according to Coach Cohen. Larson will play the four or five, and Villarreal will mostly play the six, along with the third doubles team.
An early high school graduate named Iman___________ will play the six slot on singles and the third doubles team.
A #1 out of Mesa Mountain View, Mele Iongi, is a two-time 5A State Champion and will definitely be in the hunt for a singles championship for Mesa this year, according to Coach Cohen. Two new incomers from Mesquite High School, Jaclyn Daywalt and Nicole Duenas, finished 3rd in the 5A State Doubles Championships in 2009, will be Cohen’s #2 doubles team.
Cohen sees Iongi and Bustamante as the #1 double team.
The third doubles team is slated for Larson and Villarreal.
Overall, Coach Cohen hopes his women are in contention for a national title in 2010, but knows they will be much improved from the foundation set of 2009.
"If seven players stay healthy, I don’t see how we remain out of the Top 5 nationally," says Cohen.
On the men’s side, Sam Hinze returns to play the one slot, and Ricardo Garcia comes back to play the two. Matt Tarango and Hamed Fatahi return and will be slotted at the five or six in singles.
New Thunderbird Jung Park from Nevada will play the five or six singles slot.
Also a new T’Bird, Nelson Whiting will play on the #2 doubles team.
Chris Evola, a baseball player last year with Mesa, is one of the bigger surprises thus far for Cohen, and he will play either the three or four singles.
A native of Brazil, Guilherme Arcaro will also play either the three or four slot.
Cohen says his men’s doubles team will be a work in progress, and his overall #1 and #2 are not as strong as 2009, but the one through seven depth is much stronger, which is advantageous.
Coach Cohen has his sights set on a National Top 10 with the 2010 men’s program.
Cohen has added two Sports Consultants to his coaching staff for 2010 in Jessica___________ and Russ________, joining returning coaches Roger Anstine and Christina Naranjo.
