Since the re-establishment of Nova Southeastern University’s tennis team, 10-year head coach Dr. Michael Coleman has guided the Sharks to a 111-91 overall record and multiple post-season appearances, including six NCAA Regionals.
The Sharks put forth a strong effort under Coleman in 2012, going .500 in the tough Sunshine State Conference. Coleman guided Alexandra Johansson to All-American status and had three athletes named as ITA Scholar Athletes. Dominique Wimmer, who played in the second flight for NSU in 2012, was named NSU Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Coleman won his 100th match during the 2011 season on March 26 against Florida Tech. Coleman led his team to 10 wins that season as the Sharks were on the bubble headed into postseason play. Coleman's Sharks were also successful off the court as two Sharks were named ITA Scholar Athletes.
NSU made history in 2010 as Mary Crider became the first Shark to be named to the ESPN/CoSIDA All-District Second Team. On the court, the team finished with an 8-13 overall record, going 3-5 in the Sunshine State Conference. The team edged out a victory against Division I Towson, 5-4, at the NSU Tennis Complex on March 15. The Sharks opened the season with victories against St. Thomas and Tampa, while also capturing back-to-back wins again in the middle of the season against Saint Leo and Towson. The team earned a trip to the SSC Tournament, knocking off Saint Leo in the second round, 5-0.
In 2009, with a season that included a schedule loaded with Division I and top Division II opponents, NSU went 17-8 overall and 5-3 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks finished the season ranked No. 18 nationally and No. 7 in the South Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). As a team NSU advanced to the NCAA South region Championships for the sixth time. Meanwhile, Ulia Talalenko capped off a four-year career by being ranked No. 8 nationally in singles in the ITA’s final rankings. Talalenka, who was 18-3 overall at No. 1 singles, became the first three time All-American in program history.
NSU posted a 14-8 overall mark and a 5-3 SSC record in 2008 en route to earning a fifth-straight trip to the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament. The Sharks concluded the season ranked 15th nationally by the ITA. Individually, junior Ulia Talalenko capped off an impressive season with a 16-3 overall record and a 7-1 showing in conference play. Talalenko finished 2008 ranked No. 6 nationally in singles, garnering ITA Division II All-American and First-Team All-SSC honors. Meanwhile, Talalenko and Alexa Korotkevich were ranked No. 13 by ITA in doubles play going 14-8 on the season while playing in the No. 1 slot.
In 2007, Coleman guided NSU to its best season, finishing with a 22-3 record and ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 2 in the region. The Sharks were selected to their fourth NCAA Southeast Region Tournament as a No. 2 seed, and served as host for the first time in program history.
In 2006, NSU followed up an impressive fall with an even better spring season in which it achieved a No. 9 national ranking. Going 16-8, the Sharks appeared in their fourth NCAA regional tournament before getting turned away by Florida Gulf Coast. Newcomers Alexa Korotkevich and Ulia Talalenko bursted onto the scene to be named First-Team All-SSC as singles players and doubles-partners. Both were also named ITA Doubles All-Americans.
After a strong fall, NSU began the 2005 spring season ranked No. 27 nationally and No. 4 in the Southeast region. The team continued its success in the spring season, defeating several Division I opponents – including Army, Providence and Pittsburgh – and captured key SSC wins over rivals Eckerd, Tampa, and Saint Leo.
NSU finished the 2004 season strong with a record of 14-12 overall and 4-4 in the SSC. At the end of the season NSU was ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 5 in the Southeast Region. As a result, the program earned its first ever berth into the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.
Coleman came to NSU in July 2003 after serving as head coach of the women’s tennis team at Division I George Mason University for two years. Prior to his time at George Mason, he was head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Western Maryland, now known as McDaniel College, where he led the women’s team to a Centennial Conference doubles championship.
As a middle school teacher at McDonogh School in Baltimore, Md., Coleman was the coach for the varsity women’s tennis, women’s basketball and wrestling teams from 1996-2001. During the summer of 2001 and 2002, Coleman was the Director of Tennis for the McDonogh Summer Programs where he coordinated tennis for an average of 100 students per day.
Prior to his coaching career, Coleman owned and operated a successful physical therapy practice in Maryland for 27 years. This included two women’s breast cancer rehabilitation centers, athletic rehabilitation and expertise in tempromondibular dysfunction. His experience included working with burn victims, children, neurological cases, and dental and oncology expertise. Coleman’s practice included athletic reabilitations where he worked with such elite athletes as Johnny Unitas, Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, and members of the the 1979 Dolphins.
Coleman holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland-School of Medicine. He is a licensed physical therapist and has served as president of the Oncology Section in the American Physical Therapy Association. In 2007, Coleman was awarded his Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy degree from the University of Maryland.
