'We don't judge; We coach': Jeff Nerenberg brings a lifetime of lessons to Lehman College

Jeff Nerenberg has earned more than 500 wins across a storied coaching career that has spanned from junior high school through the NCAA Division I level. Now 74, he continues to run the Jeff Nerenberg Tennis Academy—which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025—and coach at Lehman College in his native Bronx, N.Y.

A former high school physical education teacher for 35 years, Nerenberg climbed the coaching ladder alongside his teaching duties to become the winningest coach in Manhattan College history, spending 20 years at the D-I school minutes from his Riverdale home. Having worked with nationally competitive players both in that role and in a stint as USTA summer national coach from 1991-93, Nerenberg's current role at D-III Lehman—where some of his players joined the team as beginners—provides a chance to instill a love for the game in a different type of student-athlete.

"We don't judge our players. We coach them," he told USTA.com. "I'm here because kids like the ones we get have not had the kind of exposure to high-level coaching."

The charismatic coach has had plenty of highlights with the Lightning, including a program-best 15-2 women's season in 2016 that featured a 13-match winning streak. But his true success in the Bronx is measured by another metric: his ability to create lasting memories for his team as they bond together and improve their tennis throughout the season.

"The growth that you see in beginning players is often rapid and positive," he explained. "Then when they start playing matches and all of a sudden they're playing against people trying to beat them, they can lose the confidence that they gained from mastering the basic skills. So the next step becomes learning how to compete."

Nerenberg's approach to these two key developmental phases are distilled in two personal mottos. In the learning stages: "Sweat and smile and you will succeed." In competition: "Play hard, play fair, and have fun."

Decades earlier at Manhattan College, Nerenberg's in-match coaching did help turn the tide at a crucial tournament. Brian McKeever, who was named to the Metro Atlantic Coast Conference (MAAC) 40th anniversary tennis team in 2020, dropped a one-sided opening set at the conference individual event.

With his star player on the ropes, Nerenberg prescribed a heavy dose of serve-and-volleying, with wide serves to take advantage of the narrow side netting on the indoor courts. The tactical shift worked, and McKeever dominated the second and third sets in a comeback victory.

Years later at dinner together, Nerenberg and his former No. 1 player were looking back on their time together with the Jaspers team. The coach brought up the memorable match.

"I wanted to take credit for the brilliant coaching I did," he said with a laugh.

All of his past experiences—which include formative years as a basketball coach that reinforced his emphasis on the team concept—now inform his work at Lehman. Rather than chasing national accolades, Nerenberg is focused creating the best possible learning environment for his players and bringing them together as a "tennis family," as one of his current players put it.

"We are all learning together. Jeff is really supportive with that," said sophomore Shelby Gonzalez, who is set to captain the team next fall after joining two years ago with no tennis experience. "He was very open-minded to teaching us from the very beginning stages of learning tennis.

"He really pushed for us to improve, but not just so we could win. More for ourselves, to have fun on the team and enjoy the college athletics experience. I know there are a lot of coaches that are all about winning, but he never was like that. He really cares about the team as individual people."