NYU Athletics

Horace Choy is entering his 16th season as head coach of the New York University women’s tennis team, while also going into his second year as the Violets’ men’s coach.

In his first 15 seasons at the helm of the NYU women’s program, Choy has produced 13 .500-or-better efforts, including 10 of the last 11 campaigns, en route to accumulating a 122-88 career record.

In 2007-08, the Violets finished 8-8, placed sixth at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships and ended up ranked #14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Region. Choy’s first doubles team comprised of seniors Holly Smith and Meggie Smith (no relation) finished 17-6, garnered Second Team All-UAA honors and were ranked #9 in the ITA regional double rankings.

In addition, Holly Smith captured the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) #3 singles and the ITA Northeast Regional Consolation singles titles, while also earning a #23 in the ITA Northeast Region ratings. Meanwhile, the junior tandem of Jaclyn Manning and Stephanie Tu (16-6) won the #2 NYSWCAA doubles championship in their first season of playing together.

Overall, six of Choy’s seven singles players and three of his four doubles pairings posted .500-or-better marks. Holly Smith (15-10), Meggie Smith (14-8), Manning (11-11), Tu (10-9), and Alexandra Havas (5-2) each enjoyed their best-ever singles showings.

In his first year in charge of the NYU men’s program, Choy led the Violets to a 10-9 record – a six-win improvement from 2006-07 – and a fifth-place performance at the UAA Championships.

Off the court, six of Choy’s women’s student-athletes earned UAA Spring Sport All-Academic honors, while four of his men’s players garnered the same accolade.

“I am very proud of my players’ accomplishments on the court. But, I’m just as impressed by what they’ve achieved in the classroom," Choy said.

Prior to coming to NYU, Choy spent five seasons as the head girls’ tennis coach at New York City’s Hunter High School. His teams compiled a 38-2 record during his tenure at the school and three times advanced to the semifinals of the Public School Athletic League playoffs. Choy helped lead Hunter to the PSAL Championship match in 1990 and to two semifinal appearances in the Mayor’s Cup competition.

A 1987 graduate of NYU’s School of Business and Public Administration, Choy was a two-year member of the Violets’ men’s tennis team. He is a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certified teaching pro since 1990. Choy also works as a tennis instructor at NYU.

“I have always enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with team sports,” Choy said. “Tennis also allows you to work on aspects of the game on your own. In a match, the player is out there on the line and you have to rely on your own character. I believe that playing college tennis really gives you the best of both worlds, and I really enjoy the challenge of helping my players through that.”

A Manhattan native and resident, Choy is married to Silvana Cipriano, a 1994 NYU graduate and four-year swimming team member, and is the proud father of Miranda Rose and newborn Alexander James.