Jay Lapidus, a former world-ranked professional tennis player and decorated collegiate athlete at Princeton, returned to the Duke University men’s tennis program in September 2023 as a special assistant coach and Senior Director of Iron Dukes/Major Gifts. During his distinguished 18-season tenure as Duke’s head men’s tennis coach (1991–2008), he led the Blue Devils to 13 ACC Championships, guided the team to 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and posted a 133-20 league record. Lapidus earned six ACC Coach of the Year honors and five ITA Region II Coach of the Year awards, produced 27 ITA All-Americans and 56 All-ACC selections. Under his leadership, Duke compiled an unprecedented 58-match ACC regular-season winning streak (1996–2004) and consistent national top-10 finishes.
Prior to his coaching career, Lapidus was three-time All-America at Princeton, finished his college career ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in the under-21 singles category in 1980, and achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 34 in 1983. As a professional he reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open (1985), and competed at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Off the court, he holds multiple hall-of-fame inductions, including the ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. In his current dual role at Duke, he brings his extensive coaching and professional network to the program, contributing both on-court and in development/fundraising efforts for the men’s tennis program.
