4/2/2007 - (Riverdale, NY) - Mount Saint Vincent Director of Athletics Cathy Ingram has annouced the hiring of Leaf O'Neal as the new Head Men's Tennis Coach at the College, effective immediately. For more than a decade, O'Neal has coached the sport at all levels throughout the nation, and according to Ingram, the  search process yielded what she thinks is the perfect fit for the fledgling Mount Saint Vincent Tennis program.

Former University of Southern Mississippi standout Leaf O'Neal is the new Head Men's & Women's Tennis Coach at Mount Saint Vincent. O'Neal brings with him nearly a decade of coaching experience all around the nation and the Mount Saint Vincent post is his first as a college Head Coach. O'Neal is currently a Head Pro at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

"Leaf O'Neal stood out among a terrific pool of candidates because of his extensive background coaching tennis players at all levels, and his proven record of developing top-notch tennis talent wherever he has been. Since we are building our tennis program , we focused our efforts on finding an individual who is a true tennis educator who also has the personality and vision to attract outstanding tennis players to compete at Mount Saint Vincent. I think we have met our needs with the hiring of Leaf O'Neal, and I do believe our program is in very good hands."

O'Neal, a lifelone competitor in tennis, played two years of collegiate tennis at the University of Southern Mississippi, but his career was cut short due to ankle injuries. Despite the injury, he remained a competitive tennis player, and after college moved to Tyler, Texas where he coached in two programs: The Tyler Tennis and Swim Club, and the TennisTech Program at Tyler Jr. College. TennisTech is a Pro development program where he taught "Philosophy of Coaching Tennis" and the tennis lab classes for TJC. After a tennis directorship for a camp in Massachusetts, he moved to Westchester County, New York to work in Briarcliff Manor for ClubFit where he is currently a Head Pro.

While Mount Saint Vincent is O'Neal's first stint coaching at the college level, he said he is optimistic about the program's future and excited by the challenge of taking over a program in its building stages.

"I'm very excited about being invited to join the great athletics staff at Mount Saint Vincent. Everyone has been really positive and I look forward to stepping in to provide a great service to the students who want to play tennis and represent Mount Saint Vincent."

Mount Saint Vincent opened the 2007 season on Saturday with a 9-0 loss to Stevens, and the Dolphins come home on Monday to host Maritime College at 4:00 p.m.