Bio

Derek Roehner is entering his second season as a Graduate Assistant for the Coker University men’s and women’s tennis programs

In his first year (2024–25), Roehner helped lead the women’s team to a historic campaign, highlighted by the program’s highest-ever national ranking at No. 43 and its first appearance in the Southeast Region Top 10. The team achieved several major milestones under his guidance:

• Jade Bellegy earned First Team All-SAC honors in singles, reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Southeast Regional Championship, won the Cayce Invitational, and finished the season ranked in the Top 10 of the Southeast Region

• Bellegy and Emerson Banning earned First Team All-SAC honors in doubles and also closed the year ranked in the Southeast Region’s Top 10

• Ilona Hernandez-Sanchez was named SAC Freshman of the Year

• The team excelled academically, earning a cumulative 3.83 GPA, the highest among all Coker athletic teams for the year
  
  

On the men’s side, Roehner played an integral role in the team’s competitive development during a rebuilding year. With a nearly brand-new roster—seven newcomers and only four returners—the Cobras made significant strides, securing key victories over South Atlantic Conference opponents Newberry College and Limestone University, as well as a strong regional win against North Greenville University, a fellow member of the Southeast Region. Roehner also guided Samuel Winter to the Round of 16 at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship—one of the strongest individual performances in recent program history.

Originally from Weston, Florida, Roehner played collegiate tennis at West Liberty University in West Virginia, where he was a multi-year team captain and helped foster a strong team-first culture

Before joining Coker, Roehner coached at the nationally renowned Midtown Athletic Club under the direction of Laurent Leclerc, Ken Feuer, Luis Brest, and Rob Manchester, where he helped develop several nationally ranked junior players

At Coker, Roehner continues to emphasize a culture built on accountability, academic success, and competitive excellence both on and off the court