Seventh at Georgia Southern
Overall Record: 79-67
Record at GS: Same
Sun Belt Record: 10-20
2017-2018 Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year
Alexander "Sander" Koning was named Georgia Southern's head men's tennis coach in February 2015.
Koning led the team to a 9-9 record in 2020 before having the season halted for the Covid-19 pandemic including a 5-1 mark at home. He also had three straight Sun Belt Conference Athletes of Week in Pascal Wagemaker (Jan. 29), Alexandros Roumpis (Feb. 5) and Murphy McCullough. On Jan. 19, the doubles team of McCullough and Santiago Suarez defeated No. 9 nationally ranked Franco Aubone/Benjamin Hannestad of Miami by a score of 6-3 and achieved a 2020 season high ITA doubles ranking of #47.
After being bested by the No. 20 ranked Florida State Seminoles to begin the 2019 season, Koning’s Eagles strung together five straight victories spanning nearly a month, a feat that would be repeated later in March. The team finished 15-11, 2-5 SBC marking a fourth straight winning season. The season concluded in a close 3-4 loss in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament to Coastal Carolina. Antonio Muniz was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and was also a member of the All-Sun Belt Second Team.
After a rocky start to the 2017-2018 season, Koning and the Eagles turned it around finishing the year 13-12 and returning to the conference tournament as a No. 5 seed. Koning was named Co-Coach of the Year with rival head coach Jonathan Wolff from Georgia State. Under coach Koning the Eagles were able to defeat Georgia State 4-3 for the first time in the last 15 meetings and turned around the next day to defeat Appalachian State 4-2 inside the friendly confines of The Wallis Tennis Center.
During the 2016-17 season under Koning, the Eagles posted a 19-12 record overall. The 16-17 season was a historic one for the Blue and White, as they became the first team since 2000 and 2001 to post back to back winning seasons. They also were the first team since 1983 to post an undefeated home season, as well as earn their first Sun Belt Tournament victory in New Orleans. The victory in New Orleans came as a six seed, upsetting defending conference champions UT-Arlington.
During his first full season at Georgia Southern (2015-16), Koning helped the team post the best program record in 28 years, going 15-8. Since his time as an Eagle he's coached two players on the Sun Belt All-Conference Team, and both years men's tennis topped the charts for the highest men's team GPA at Georgia Southern.
Prior to Georgia Southern, Koning served as assistant men's tennis coach at Indiana University, where he helped with the planning and administration of all facets of the program. While serving as the team's liaison with the compliance department, Koning also was responsible for nutrition and conditioning. In addition, he managed the equipment budget and helped with the management of the recruiting and travel budgets.
Prior to his time at Indiana, Koning was the assistant men's tennis coach at Old Dominion University from 2011-14. While at ODU, Koning was instrumental in improving the team from being unranked to a season high ranking of 54 in 2013. The team also achieved its highest GPA in program history.
Fluent in Dutch and English, Koning has recruited extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He has also created and managed the competitive player matrix, which identifies a player's position in the lineup based on statistical numbers gathered from daily practices and official matches. During his tenure at Old Dominion, Koning coached three all-conference team selections and four conference all-academic team members. Carlos Lopez-Villa, ranked as high as 30th, was an All-CAA and All C-USA selection in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Lopez-Villa also won the prestigious ITA Regional Singles Championship in 2013.
"I am proud to announce the hiring of Alexander Koning and look forward to him leading our men's tennis program," said Kleinlein.
Koning has also worked for the KNLTB (Dutch Tennis Federation) and was a graduate teaching assistant and volunteer assistant coach at Clemson University from 2006-08. During that time, he earned a master's degree in sport management and wrote his thesis titled, "Increasing Perceived Competence in Beginning Tennis Players: The effects of a task oriented motivational climate and adaptive learning strategies."
As a student-athlete, Koning competed at Clemson University at the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles position. A two-time All-ACC Player (2003, 2005), Koning was also a four-time selection to the All-ACC Academic Team (2002-06). A sport marketing major, he was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected as the men's tennis team captain in 2005-06.
Koning has played professionally and earned ATP points in professional club tennis competitions and tournaments.
