While I was in Hilton Head attending and presenting at the PTR coaches conference, I took the time to drive up to Lander University where I had played collegiate tennis for three years under ITA hall of fame coach Joe Cabri.
I had not been back to Lander university for over 25 years and it was great to see Joe and to meet faculty members and university Président Richard Consentino at a faculty reception on Friday night.
Joe won eight national collegiate titles – four NAIA and four NCAA Division 2 titles during his time as coach. He showed me around the Joe Cabri Tennis Centre, named after Joe in recognition of all he achieved. We also had dinner with Irish player Fergus O’Rourke, pictured below, who is the son of RTE’s Caroline Murphy and who is on the current Lander tennis team.
Joe was very successful as a coach but he taught me, by example, life skills that helped me so much in my future career and life in general. I am pointing to a photo of me in my long haired, bearded and athletic days!!
