The Colgate Tennis program has continued to have success in head coach Bobby Pennington’s second decade at the helm of the program.
Pennington, who served as the head coach of both men's and women's tennis since July 2006, earned a contract extension in the summer of 2025 on the heels of 337 career wins. Colgate University announced in June 2025 that the program was splitting its head coaching responsibilities, with Pennington maintaining the helm of the men's program. The decision was made to provide each team the opportunity to grow, develop, and flourish, under the leadership of a dedicated head coach.
As of the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, he accumulated a total of 337 career wins across both programs. Specifically, his 175 wins on the men's side are third most in program history while his 162 victories on the women's side are second most.
With the completion of the 2024-25 women's tennis season, Pennington matched Joe Abrahamson as the longest tenured head coach in women's program history at 19 years. He has coached a Patriot League Player of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and more than 32 All-Patriot League and Academic All-League performers in his tenure with the program.
During Pennington's tenure, the men's and women's programs have advanced to the Patriot League quarterfinals each year in addition to 11 total semifinal appearances – four on the men's side and seven with the women's program.
Pennington was hired as the men's and women's tennis teams in July 2006. Pennington has coached a Patriot League Player of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and 32 All-Patriot League performers in his tenure with the program. Eight different Raiders have also been named Patriot League Players of the Month during his time as the head coach.
Pennington has developed into one of the best tennis coaches in Colgate history, earning his 200th career victory with the programs during the 2016-17 season. He currently is third in men's tennis program history in wins and second in women's tennis program history.
During the 2022-23 season, the women's team soared to their best record in over a decade, going 12-8 and beating Siena for the first time in seven years. First-year student Amelia Galin '26 led the way for the women's team, holding a singles record of 13-6. On the men's side, senior Jack Selati '23 was named 2023 Second Team All-Patriot League.
During the 2021-22 campaign, Pennington led the women's team to its best season since 2012-2013, recording 11 wins and also defeating Lehigh for the first time since 2013. Additionally, he guided the men's team to another strong season, tallying nine wins and helping junior Jack Selati garner Second Team All-Patriot League honors.
Despite the abbreviated 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennington helped guide both tennis teams to successful seasons. The men’s team finished the regular season at 3-5 with a 3-2 Patriot League record and saw the Raiders defeat Boston University for the first time since the Terriers joined the Patriot League.
Colgate advanced to the Patriot League Semifinals for the second time in the past three tournaments with a stellar 4-3 win over Bucknell. Senior Francis Scott Bickel was named Second Team All-Patriot League, garnering All-League honors for the third time in his career. On the women’s side, the Raiders finished 4-4 in the regular season with key non-conference wins against Binghamton and Monmouth. Colgate also had a 2-3 Patriot League record, which was led by strong performances against Holy Cross and Lafayette.
Pennington helped orchestrate a 180 degree turnaround for both the men and women during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Through just ten matches, the men's team reached their 2019 win total with a mark of 7-3. The women found their best start through nine matches since 2013, posting a record of 7-2. Four of those wins came against teams they'd lost to the previous year. The Raiders earned one Patriot League Player of the Week honor (Scott Bickel) and four honorable mentions. Both teams had won four straight matches before the season came to a halt.
The 2018-19 season was filled with accolades for the Raiders. Pennington became just the second coach in Colgate Men's and Women's tennis history to reach 500 matches coached when the women faced Lehigh Mar. 31. The men's program also celebrated its fourth straight year with a Patriot League First Team player when Scott Bickel was honored after the season. Noah Rosenblat also closed his memorable career when he was honored with the Director of Athletics Award at the school's Academic Convocation.
Pennington and the Raiders also continued to raise awareness and funds for heart awareness when both teams hosted their own Heart Awareness Match throughout the course of the season at Sanford Field House.
Under the tutelage of Pennington, the men’s team won 15 games during the 2017-18 season the most for the program since 1998. The Raiders, who earned the three-seed for the Patriot League Tournament, advanced to conference semifinals for the first time since 2009. Additionally, the Raiders beat both Lehigh and Bucknell in the same season for the first time in nine years. For the fourth consecutive year Jacob Daugherty earned All-Patriot League honors, being named to first team, while newcomer Scott Bickel was named to the second team. On the women’s side, the Raiders beat Binghamton and George Mason for the first time in Pennington’s tenure. Led by second team All-Patriot League selection Mackenzie Deeter, the women’s team won their first Patriot League Tournament match since 2013, downing Holy Cross 4-0.
During the 2016-17 season, Pennington coached the men's and women's tennis teams to winning regular season records before finishing in the top five of the Patriot League standings. Pennington coached All-Patriot League First Team Selection Jacob Daugherty and Second Team selection Lauren Hyland.
Jacob Daugherty again highlighted the individual efforts by earning All-League First Team honors one season after being named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Daugherty went 16-4 at No. 1 singles and partnered with Tom Hale to go 15-3 at No. 1 doubles. Pennington called the duo the “best doubles team in the league.”
The Colgate women went 8-11 in 2015-16, including a 2-3 mark against Patriot League foes. First-year Lauren Hyland’s outstanding debut season landed the Colgate rookie on the All-Patriot League Second Team. Hyland played the No. 1 position for the Raiders and was a part of 10 singles victories and 11 doubles triumphs.
The 2013-14 men's squad knocked off Navy for the first time since 2006 and Bucknell for first time since 2009. Individually, Gensburg became just the third player in Colgate history to earn All-Patriot League First Team honors all four seasons. A highlight of 2014-15 was an eight-match winning streak for the men that was the program’s longest since 11 in a row way back in 1996-97. The team’s 14 victories – highlighted by a 7-1 home mark – were the most of the Pennington era and most for a Raider men’s squad since 1997-98. Jacob Daugherty was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year.
The 2012-13 season saw Pennington coach the women to a great turnaround, finishing the year 12-6 and earning their seventh straight appearance in the Patriot League tournament semifinals. The women started the year with a seven-match winning streak and Kelsey Shea was named All-Patriot League Second Team. Pennington took over second place in Colgate women's tennis coaching victories and third on the men’s chart. Gensburg was named first team All-Patriot League for the third consecutive year.
In 2011-12, Gensburg was named first team All-Patriot League for the second straight year. The women finished third in the league and made the Patriot League semifinals for the sixth consecutive year. Pennington also recorded his 100th Colgate combined victory with a home win over St. Bonaventure.
The 2009-10 teams both finished in the top four in the Patriot League’s regular season, with the men knocking off eventual top-seed Army for the second straight year. Luke Gensburg in 2010-11 was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year after going 4-1 in conference play and 12-6 overall. The women reached the tournament semifinals for a fifth consecutive season and Pennington earned the Patriot League’s Award for Good Sporting Conduct.
Martin MacIntyre earned 2007-08 Patriot League Player of the Year for the men, while the women began 6-0 for their best start since 1993-94. MacIntyre repeated as an All-Patriot League First Team selection in 2008-09 when the men went 12-8 overall and finished second in the conference. Included was a victory over Army for the first time in seven years and advancement to the tournament semifinals. Elise DeRose earned an All-League First Team spot on the women’s side.
Pennington arrived on the Colgate scene in 2006-07 and immediately pushed both teams over the .500 mark. The men finished 11-10 for their best record in three years, and the women were 11-8 for their top mark in four seasons. The men’s team achieved a program first when three Raiders were named to the All-League teams.
Prior to taking the job at Colgate, Pennington spent two years as head coach of the men and women's tennis teams at Division III Juniata in Pennsylvania. In his two years with the Eagles, Pennington coached six All-Conference selections and two league rookies of the year.
During his time at Juniata, Pennington founded the Attack & Defend Tennis Camp. Acting as camp director, Pennington helped instruct 50 children of all ages and ability levels.
While earning his master's degree at Clarion University, Pennington acted as the assistant coach of the women's tennis team from 2002-04 and took a winless team to nine wins in just one year. He earned his degree in communications and mass media technology in 2004.
Outside of college tennis, Pennington has been the head tennis pro at Toftrees Resort and Conference Center and a rally ball instructor at Blair Racquet Club. Pennington also spent time coaching boys and girls tennis at Hollidaysburg Area High School in 2001 and 2002.
Pennington also is the director of the Colgate Nike Tennis Camps, which started in 2011, and has been a certified USPTR Professional since 2001. He is a former member of the ITA Division I Men’s Northeast Rankings Committee and a past member of the Hamilton Chapter of the Rotary Club.
During his collegiate student-athlete days, Pennington was part of "
The Streak" – one of the most amazing dynasties in collegiate athletics. Pennington's alma mater, Kalamazoo College in Michigan, has won 78 consecutive conference men's tennis championships dating to 1936 (no titles presented during World War II).
Pennington was captain his senior season of 2001 and part of an All-America doubles team with partner Andrew Minnelli. He was a Rolex ITA finalist in the fall of 2000 and ranked in the top 20 nationally in doubles. Pennington and the Hornets advanced all four years to the NCAA tournament. During his freshman year he helped the team clinch the bronze medal with a doubles win over Emory. The following year, Kalamazoo finished second in the country. In Pennington's final two years with the Hornets, the squad finished with matching ninth-place finishes.
Pennington currently resides in Hamilton, N.Y., and has two daughters, Mia and Parker, along with a son, Clifford.
Get to Know 'Gate Athletics -- Bobby Pennington
- Influential Person in My Career: My dad, Big Bob, took me to all my tournaments growing up.
- An Idea or Invention I Wish I Had Thought of: Yogate.
- What I Like About My Job: Coaching up our student-athletes and forming lifelong relationships.
- What I Like About Competing: Cream always rises to the top, and winning.
- What I Would Like to Change: Tennis getting more respect and love at the collegiate and national level.
- What I Like That Would Surprise Those Who Know Me: I once was a Radio DJ and taught high school English.
- What I Like About Myself: I beat to my own drummer and am loyal to close friends and family.
Colgate Magazine Feature
