Eric Halpern returned in October 2022 as an assistant coach of the New York University men’s and women’s tennis teams. He previously served in that capacity during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
The 2022-23 campaign was historic for Halpern and the women’s team as NYU qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in program history while Ida Krause (singles and doubles) and Dakota Fordham (doubles) were NYU’s first-ever participants at the NCAA Individual Tournament. Despite the Violets falling to Kenyon College in the second round of the NCAA’s after receiving a first-round bye, the dynamic duo did win their opening-round match of the Individual Tournament.
The women matched the program record for most wins (11) and placed a program-best third at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship as NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
The Violets finished the season ranked #16 nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ITA, the program’s highest-ever postseason rating.
Individually, Krause won the ITA Northeast Regional Singles Championship and combined with Fordham to snare the doubles crown. The duo was both named First Team All-UAA in doubles, Krause also received the nod in singles and Jimena Menendez took home Second Team honors in singles.
The men posted a 7-8 match record, including a victory over the University of Rochester at the UAA Championship. Individually, Boren Zheng earned Second Team All-UAA (singles) honors and Honorable Mention (#2 Doubles). Also receiving Honorable Mention was Alexander Lee (#2 Doubles) and Joseph He (#4 Singles).
Though the ‘19-20 campaign was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the accomplishments of both teams were enough to fill an entire season. The women won all four of their dual matches in the abbreviated spring season and were ranked #17 in the nation and #10 in the Northeast Region by the ITA.
During the fall, three players were victorious at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships. Freshman Karina Jensrud took the singles title, while junior Anna Maria Buraya and freshman Anatasiia Balyk combined to win the doubles crown. All three went on to compete at the ITA Oracle Cup and earn All-America honors. In addition, Buraya and Jensrud received All-UAA (University Athletic Association) First and Second Team Singles honors, respectively, while combining for All-UAA First Doubles. In the final ITA rankings of the season, Jensrud was placed #19 nationally and #7 in the Northeast Region in singles, while Buraya and Balyk were ranked #6 and #4, respectively, in doubles.
The men’s team posted a 1-2 match record and ranked #15 in the ITA Northeast Region. Freshman Alex Yang made an impressive debut, advancing to the Round of 16 at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships in the fall. The spring season culminated with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Southern Virginia University on Senior Day. Senior Vishal Walia, who contributed a singles and doubles victory in the match to help propel the comeback, finished his NYU career second all-time in #3 doubles victories (16).
In his first season in ‘18-19, Halpern helped lead the women’s team to a 10-2 record and the men to a 7-8 campaign. The women’s team finished the season ranked #19 nationally by the ITA. The Violets also won two of its three matches at the UAA Championship, taking fifth place and matching the team’s highest finish since 2009.
Several women’s team members also flourished that season. Buraya ended the season ranked #32 in singles by the ITA, while the doubles pair of Fleura Shiyanova and Coco Kulle combined to win the ITA Northeast Region Doubles Championship and capture ITA Division III All-America recognition. Kulle also earned honors as First Team All-UAA Second Singles.
On the men’s side, Lucas Biondi, who posted an impressive 12-1 match record during the season, earned Second Team All-UAA Third Singles honors. The squad was ranked #36 in the nation at the end of the campaign while Walia earned a #46 ranking nationally in singles.
A 2015 graduate of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, Halpern earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with concentrations in Finance and Real Estate.
While attending Emory, Halpern served as captain of the men’s tennis team during his senior campaign. He was a two-time NCAA Division III Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Singles Player (2012-13, 2013-14) and clinched the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championship for the Eagles with his singles win.
Halpern’s experience as a tennis coach includes conducting group and private lessons for juniors and adults at Midtown Tennis Club (New York, NY), American Yacht Club (Rye, NY), and the Satellite Tennis Academy (Ossining, NY).
Following his graduation from Emory, Halpern worked for several years at Hall Capital Partners in New York City as both an analyst and associate in the portfolio management group. Halpern is now attending the NYU Leonard N. Stern School of Business, pursuing an MBA with specializations in Corporate Finance, FinTech, and Management.
A native of Rye Brook, NY, Halpern resides in Manhattan.
