Duke Annouces Changes To Men?s Tennis Staff

DURHAM, N.C. ? Duke University announced changes to its men's tennis coaching staff on Wednesday with Jay Lapidus being named Director of Tennis, Ramsey Smith promoted to head coach, Josh Goffi named assistant coach and K.J. Hippensteel named volunteer assistant coach.

The Blue Devils' men's coach the past 18 seasons, Lapidus' duties will include include fund raising for both men's and women's tennis, management of the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center and game day operations for tournaments and dual matches.

"Ultimately my decision came down to what is best for Duke tennis,” said Lapidus. “The goal of both the men's and women's tennis programs is to win a National Championship. This reorganization is a positive move in that direction and reflects Duke's commitment to tennis.”

With an all-time record of 372-126 (.747), Lapidus ends his career as the winningest coach in school history. He ranks third in the ACC in career victories (372) and his winning percentage (.747) is fourth best in league history. He won 11 ACC championships, was named the ACC Coach of the Year six times and posted a career record of 133-20 in league play. He guided the Blue Devils to 17 consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 1992-2008 with a career record of 32-16 and six quarterfinal appearances. He was named the ITA Region II Coach of the Year in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2006 and produced 27 ITA All-Americans and 54 All-ACC selections.

Smith has been promoted to head coach after serving as an assistant coach and associate head coach the past three seasons. He will become the seventh head coach at Duke since they joined the ACC in 1954. Smith, a former standout on Blue Devils' squad from 1998-2001, has helped Duke to a 48-30 record in his three seasons on the coaching staff. In his first season, they went 22-7 and won both the ACC regular season and ACC Tournament championships.

“I am extremely excited about this opportunity at my alma mater,” said Smith. “For 12 years I have been passionate about Duke Tennis and this is my dream job. I am looking forward to working my hardest to develop student athletes who will reach their full potential on the court and in the classroom.”

As a player Smith was an ITA All-America in 2000 and 2001. He was a three-time All-ACC performer and earned back-to-back ACC Tournament MVP honors in 2000 and 2001. He won the USTA Sportsmanship Award in 2000 and the ITA National Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award in 2000 and 2001. He posted a career singles record of 119-37 and was 103-47 in doubles. He ranks second all-time at Duke in career singles victories. Smith helped lead the Blue Devils to a record of 96-11 in dual matches and a perfect 32-0 in the ACC during his four years as a player. In 2002 he was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team.

"Ramsey Smith is a star,” said Lapidus. “He is a star as a player, person, coach, and representative of Duke University. I am excited to work with both Ramsey and Jamie Ashworth to ensure Duke Tennis stays at the forefront of collegiate tennis.”

Smith has completed his staff with Arizona State women's assistant coach Josh Goffi being named assistant coach and former Stanford standout K.J. Hippensteel named a volunteer assistant coach.

“My first goal starting up was to surround myself with the best possible staff and I believe I have accomplished this with Josh and K.J.,” said Smith. “I have known Josh and K.J. for over 15 years. They are good friends and former doubles partners of mine. I look forward to building a championship team with them.”

Goffi has been an assistant women's tennis coach at Arizona State for the past two seasons. In 2008 he was named the ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year. During his time at ASU, the Sun Devils went 28-18 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. In college Goffi was a four-year standout at Clemson. He was a three-time All-ACC selection and was ranked in the top-10 in both singles (No. 9) and doubles (No. 2) during his career. He was the ACC Flight Champion in singles and doubles at the No. 3 position in 1999. He went on to a professional career that included three singles championships and 18 doubles titles.

Hippensteel will assist the men's tennis staff while attending medical school at Duke. He has been playing professionally since graduating from Stanford in 2002. His professional career includes US Open Grand Slam appearances in 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won more USTA Pro Circuit singles and doubles titles than any other player in 2004. In college he helped lead Stanford to the 2000 National Championship. He was a four-time All-America for the Cardinals and two-time Academic All-America selection. He teamed with Ryan Wolters to win the NCAA Doubles Championship in 1999 and advanced to the semifinals in the NCAA singles championships in 2000. He was the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2002 and received the Pac-10 Doubles Team of the Year with Alex Kim in 2001. He was the No. 1 ranked player in the country as a sophomore and senior.

Duke Annouces Changes To Men?s Tennis Staff

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