East Tennessee State University

Ricky Rojas was named the new Director of Tennis on July 13, 2023. Rojas, who served as head coach for ETSU’s women’s tennis program from 2016-23, will now oversee both the men’s and women’s programs.

“We are excited to have Ricky serve as our Director of Tennis,” said ETSU Athletic Director Richard Sander. “Ricky has done a tremendous job coaching our women’s team over the last seven years and also did an exceptional job stepping in to lead our men’s program to a Southern Conference Championship this past spring. His teams excel both on and off the court. Ricky is an ETSU alum and he is the right fit to lead both of our tennis programs.”

Both Buccaneer teams had some highlights in 2024-25. The women's team went 14-9 and 6-1 in SoCon play and reached as high as No. 58 in the ITA national poll. The national ranking was the highest ever for the Buccaneer women's tennis program. After a second-place finish in the regular season, the Bucs had three players earn All-SoCon honors. Ksenija Rage was named the SoCon's Freshman of the Year and the duo of Daniela Rivera and Alessandra Caceres both garnered All-League recognition as well. On the men's side, the Bucs won a share of the SoCon regular season championship with a 6-1 conference record. ETSU finished 13-7 overall in 2025 and five Bucs garnered All-SoCon honors. Peter Kalocsai (First Team Singles, Second Team Doubles), Martin Garcia-Ripoll (Second Team Singles, Doubles), Pedro Cressoni (Second Team Singles), Juan Andres Listo (All-Freshman Team), and Carlos Gonzales (All-Freshman) all earned postseason honors from the league. 

In his first season leading both programs, Rojas helped the Bucs capture the men's and women's SoCon Regular Season and Tournament Titles. He coached Dimitri Badra to his fourth consecutive SoCon Player of the Year honor, while Milledge Cossu (Second Team Doubles), Francisco Lamas (Second Team Doubles) and Alberto Garcia (Freshman) all earned all-conference nods as well. On the women's side, Rojas guided ETSU to one of the program's best seasons ever. The Bucs went 17-8 overall that included ranked wins over #63 USF and #57 VCU. During the season, ETSU achieved its highest national ranking (#60) in the ITA poll and finished the campaign ranked fifth in the Ohio Valley Regional Rankings, which marks fourth straight season that the program has closed out a campaign regionally ranked. He coached Sofia Markova to SoCon Player of the Year honors, while Fernanda Carvajal (First Team Singles & Doubles), Daniela Rivera (Second Team Singles, First Team Doubles), Alessandra Caceres (Second Team Doubles, Second Team Singles, Freshman), Jana Rovira (Freshman) all landed spots on a variety of All-SoCon teams as well. It marked the women's first-ever SoCon Regular Season Title. Furthermore, the 2024 spring season marked the first time that the men's and women's programs won back-to-back tournament titles in their respective histories. For his efforts, Rojas was named SoCon Coach of the Year on both the men's and women's side. 

In 2023, Rojas helped the Buccaneer women’s tennis program capture the Southern Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.  Rojas won his 100th career match in a 6-1 win over UNCG on March 11, while the women finished the season with an overall record of 19-8 and were ranked ninth in the final Ohio Valley Region ranking of the season. The Bucs registered their 20th straight winning season – the last seven of which came under Rojas’ watch.

Rojas earned his third straight SoCon Coach of the Year honor this past season, while he has received the honor four times in his career – including once on the men’s side in 2017. Rojas became the first SoCon women’s tennis coach to garner three straight Coach of the Year honors since Furman Hall of Famer Debbie Southern won the award seven straight years from 2003-09.

In his seven seasons coaching the ETSU women’s tennis program, Rojas has generated a .624-win percentage, while going 37-7 in conference action. This past 2022-23 season, Rojas coached Laylo Bakhodirova to SoCon Player of the Year honors, marking the Bucs’ first SoCon Player of the Year honor since 1992. Rojas also led ETSU to its highest-ranked win in school history against No. 49 Appalachian State in 2020. He has coached the likes of Ioanna Markesini which made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and ranked as high as No. 88 in the country in 2017-2018. More recently, he coached Laylo Bakhodirova in 2021-22 to career high ranking at No. 87 in the country. She also started pre season ranked #105 in 2022-23. In doubles, he coached Yunuen Elizarraras and Fernanda Carvajal to a ranking of No. 44 in 2021-22 and Carvajal to a SoCon Freshman of the Year award in 2021.

Rojas began his coaching career in 2008 when he served as an assistant for the men’s program until being named head coach for the women in 2016.

As an assistant coach, Rojas has helped lead the Buccaneer tennis program to conference tournament titles in each of his first nine seasons. He also aided the Bucs to their first NCAA Tournament win in 2008 beating then-BIG EAST Champion Notre Dame; however, Rojas’s aid did not end there. In 2010, he helped the Bucs to a 9-1 conference record and their second NCAA Tournament win defeating Alabama 4-2.

“Being an ETSU alum, it’s exciting to be given the opportunity to lead both our men’s and women’s tennis programs,” said Rojas. “I look forward to the challenge to carry on the great tradition of success of both teams. I’d like to thank Doc (Dr. Richard Sander) and ETSU leadership for trusting me to lead both programs. Go Bucs!”

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Rojas played for the Bucs from 2005-07 after transferring from Arkansas-Little Rock. In the 2005-06 season, the Blue & Gold went 19-7 overall and posted a perfect 8-0 mark in ASUN play en route to winning the regular season title. A later, the Bucs went 23-5 and 8-0 in conference action as ETSU swept both the ASUN regular season and tournament titles. The Blue & Gold earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where ETSU faced 17^th-ranked Alabama. Rojas posted a 9-4 overall singles record, including going 8-3 in tournament play.

Rojas is certified in the USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) as an Elite Professional and also certified in the USPTR (Professional Tennis Registry) as a professional. 

Rojas earned his bachelor’s in management and marketing and MBA, MPA and a master's in sport management — all at ETSU.

Ricky Rojas Career Record (Men's Tennis)
* Years as an assistant coach
** Took over as an interim 

Ricky Rojas Career Record (Women's Tennis)