Newark Academy Hires Tom Battaglia as Director of Tennis

Newark Academy has announced the appointment of former Rider University Head Tennis Coach, Tom Battaglia, as its Director of Tennis, effective January 1, 2026. In this new role, Battaglia will oversee all aspects of Newark Academy’s nationally respected tennis programs, including serving as head coach for both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams.

Coach Battaglia brings a plethora of high-level tennis experience to Newark Academy with nearly three decades of coaching under his belt. This includes serving as head coach at Rider University, FDU-Florham, and Rutgers-Newark as well as leadership on national tennis committees.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring Coach Battaglia on board to direct our tennis programs,” says Director of Athletics Dave Pasquale. “He's had tremendous success at every level of tennis, and I have no doubt that he is the right person to lead the next chapter of the storied tradition at Newark Academy."

Coach Battaglia most recently served as head coach of Rider’s men’s and women’s tennis programs, where he led the men's team to its first-ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoff appearance, and earned 2024 Coach of the Year recognition. Prior to Rider, Tom had a successful run at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham (FDU), where his teams earned more than 90 wins over his four-year tenure. Battaglia was named Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2019 and was nominated for United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) College Coach of the Year in 2021. Prior to his time at FDU, he led both the men’s and women’s teams at Rutgers-Newark, where he turned an 0–12 program into a playoff contender.

Battaglia has also been Director of Tennis at The Maplewood Club since 2008 and owner/director of Crestmont Indoor Tennis since 2014, where he has helped grow junior, adult and summer camp programs. At Maplewood and Crestmont, he has mentored numerous junior players to Division I and II scholarships. A former No. 1 singles player at Rutgers University, Battaglia previously contributed to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) coaching and player development. He is still very active at the national level, serving as Vice Chair of the USTA Eastern Competition Committee and the USPTA Middle States New Jersey Regional President.

In addition to leading both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams, Battaglia will collaborate with the Middle School Athletic Director to strengthen player development across all levels. The role will also focus on working with the Offices of Admission and Marketing and Communications to attract and support student-athletes aligned with NA’s mission. The Director of Tennis will help mentor coaching staff and expand tennis opportunities through camps, clinics and community engagement. This new full-time position reflects Newark Academy’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation within its athletics program.

Newark Academy — an independent school for grades 6-12 in Livingston, NJ — is home to a premier tennis program in the state and one of the most storied programs in the country. The boys’ program has won 31 conference, 30 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) State Sectional, 31 NJSIAA State Final, 26 county, 17 Newark Academy Tennis Invitational and 15 Tournament of Champions titles. The girls’ program has won 13 conference, 11 county, 18 NJSIAA State Sectional, 17 NJSIAA State Final and eight Tournament of Champions titles. Several NA tennis graduates have continued their careers at the collegiate and professional levels.

About Newark Academy Athletics
Located in Livingston, NJ, Newark Academy Minutemen Athletics supports 27 varsity teams in its program. With roughly 81 percent of Upper School students participating in sports, Newark Academy Athletics aims to provide a competitive and enriching experience for its student-athletes.