ITA Coaches Podcast: Late Start, Big Impact featuring Chad Berryhill

Chad Berryhill, Head Women’s Coach at Embry Riddle, didn’t even start playing tennis until his freshman year of high school, when his basketball coach encouraged him to try the sport as a way to stay in shape. That introduction quickly turned into a passion that led him to the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University and eventually into college coaching. At just 22 years old, Chad became the head coach at Hillsborough Community College and has since built a highly successful career at the NCAA Division II level, with head coaching stops at Ferris State and Saint Leo. Along the way. he’s earned multiple ITA National Coach of the Year honors, won the ITA Men’s Indoor National Championship title and has been deeply involved in growing the sport through his service with the ITA. In this podcast, Chad discusses the lessons he learned from working under legendary tennis coach Steve Smith, why coaches should go the extra mile for the industry, and how he gets builds university support in a time of limited resources.

In 2025, Sam made history, becoming the first woman to be named the ITA Division II Men’s coach of the Year, a milestone that speaks to her competitive excellence and leadership. Sam has spent her entire collegiate in NCAA Division II as both a player and a coach. In this episode, Sam and Dave discuss the mentors who shaped her, the lessons that molded her leadership, what it takes to build a championship-caliber program and the advice she has for young coaches - especially women - who want to build long, impactful careers in our profession.

Chuck Kriese spent 33 years at Clemson University before retiring in 2008. He became the winningest coach in ACC history, piling up 685 victories, 10 conference titles, and a legacy that produced All-Americans, national players of the year, and future ATP standouts. A former US National Coach and the author of four influential tennis books, Chuck has shaped how generations of coaches think about development, leadership, and building programs that last. In 2013, Chuck surprised many by returning to college coaching at The Citadel, driven by the same passion for teaching and growth that defined his career.

In this special podcast, Dave & Anthony provide must-know updates for all college coaches, including important rules to remember for all divisions, the NCAA Division I fall pathway, and new information related to Electronic Line Calling and government lobbying efforts. 

Robin Stephenson is in her 12th season as the Head Women’s Coach at the University of Washington. Under her leadership, UW has made six NCAA tournament appearances, and finished the season ranked in the top 30 five times. In this podcast, Robin reflects on her time as a volunteer assistant for Bryan Shelton at Georgia Tech and the lessons she carries from that NCAA Championship season. She and Dave discuss her coaching journey, what she thinks defines a great college coach and how she evaluates and challenges herself with each season.

Nick Zieziula is entering his 12th season as the Head Men’s Coach at Binghamton University. In this podcast, Dave and Nick discuss the ways he was able to keep various key stakeholders engaged and involved with his program during a performance slump. They also talk about what coming back from that looks like and how he and his coaching staff are maintaining their momentum. Finally - this fall, Nick’s program and several other universities in New York, along with USTA Eastern, worked together to create a large community service event centered around a fall college tournament. Nick explains what they did, how they did it and why other college coaches should consider implementing something similar in their own communities.

After graduating from the University of Montana, Jason Brown spent years outside the tennis world, including time as a professional poker player. Dave and Jason delve into the skills he honed in the high-stakes world of poker and how those lessons translated back to the court. Jason also discusses the evolution of his coaching career, his experience working in analytics for pro tennis players and the lessons he’s learned from a former teammate.

Tim discusses transitioning from the pro tour to college coaching, his remarkable success at Texas Tech, and his decision to retire. He also opens up about the tragic events that unfolded just 20 days after his retirement, and how they influenced the person he is today.

Coaches, please enjoy this special episode that takes a look back at some of our first podcasts recorded during the 2019-20 college tennis season. Guests such as David Roditi, Peter Wright, Sheila McInerney, and Claire Pollard are featured during this first-ever top moments podcast from the ITA. 

In this episode, several leading media members within college tennis sit down with ITA CEO David Mullins to discuss this past college tennis season. Listen as they discuss some of the biggest surprises, breakout stars, and more on this season recap episode.