The Lafayette College tennis team remains without a head coach after its most recent leader — named in December — resigned on Jan. 6 to pursue a new position, according to the college’s athletic department. The teams have been without a head coach for over two months, since Ralph Van Ormer ended his decade-long tenure at the helm of the program.
Mike Mucci was named the Lafayette head coach three weeks before his departure; he was announced as the head women’s tennis coach at Portland State University in Oregon on Jan. 22. Mucci was formerly an assistant coach for Penn State University’s women’s tennis team.
When reached for comment, Mucci said he had no personal issues with the college and that he received a new offer. He did not elaborate further.
Members of the men’s and women’s teams were notified on Jan. 7, per an email obtained by The Lafayette.
“I know this is unsettling for you all as we approach the spring semester,” wrote Carly Riepenhoff, the senior associate for student-athlete success, in the email to the team. “While I am disappointed in his decision, we remain committed to finding a coach who is invested in Lafayette and you as student-athletes.”
Athletics spokesman Phil LaBella wrote in an email that the head coach search process is “ongoing.” Representatives from the athletics department, including Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman, did not comment further on Mucci’s exit.
Junior captain Hanna Ganchi explained that Mucci held an introductory team meeting and had planned to schedule individual player meetings before contact with the team started to fall through.
“He basically told us we’re a great group, and he hopes that we find someone,” Ganchi said of Mucci’s eventual departure message. “And that was kind of it. It was very abrupt.”
“I think we were shocked because he seemed really excited,” Ganchi continued. She said the team was understanding of Mucci’s decision.
The tennis teams — slated to play Franklin & Marshall College next weekend — have held captain’s practices this week. The college brought on an interim coach, Jason Toedter, to lead the team beginning next week.
“I’d be able to do what I do for them for the spring, while they look to try and find another coach,” said Toedter, who offered to coach at Lafayette after Van Ormer’s exit to Muhlenberg College on Nov. 1. “And so I guess, sort of lo and behold, that ended up coming to fruition.”
“We all know each other pretty well, and there are no new players coming for the spring — we at least have a general idea from previous seasons about where people stand,” said junior Derrin Lerner.
Lerner said that the tennis teams were invited this week to interview multiple coaching candidates.
The teams previously staffed two coaches; assistant tennis coach Francesco Mowrey worked at Lafayette during the 2023-24 season before leaving in January 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The team will prepare a singles and doubles lineup during the week of Feb. 1, though Ganchi said she expects captain’s practices to help prepare the team despite the absence of a coach.
“We’re just making sure that we’re just hitting a lot of balls, making sure that we’re in shape and really trying to incorporate point play into our practices now with the upcoming matches,” said Ganchi, who helped lead the team’s first practice Wednesday.
Toedter estimated he could be at the college for over a month until a head coach moves to Easton.
“I’m sort of in a position where I’m hoping to say, ‘Okay, you guys know how to play,’” he said. ‘“Now, let’s learn how to win.’”
