Derek Roehner

Bio

Derek Roehner enters his second season with the Coker University men’s and women’s tennis programs in 2025–26 and his first as Head Coach, after serving as the Graduate Assistant Coach during the 2024–25 season.

Head Coach (Year 1):

In his first year as Head Coach, Roehner led the Cobras to an 11-8 record in Men's Tennis and a 7-11 record in Women's Tennis. Coach Roehner had 3 athletes named SAC Player of the Week in Salome Sierra (Feb 9th), Ilona Hernandez-Sanchez (Feb. 23), and Edoardo Pilia ( April 13). Roehner also had 4 All-Conference players this season in Ilona Hernandez-Sanchez (3rd), Marko Pozonec (3rd), Edoardo Pilia (3rd), and Marcio Silva (2nd). Roehner led the Men's Tennis team back to the South Atlantic Conference Postseason tournament as a #6 seed.

Graduate Assistant (Year 1): In just one year, Roehner helped guide the Cobras to historic success both on and off the court. The women’s team posted the best season in program history, climbing to a No. 43 national ranking and earning its first-ever spot inside the ITA Southeast Region Top 10.

Under his leadership, Coker women’s tennis collected several major achievements:

• Jade Bellegy earned First-Team All-SAC honors in singles, reached the ITA Southeast Regional quarterfinals, and finished the season Top 10 in the region.

• Bellegy and Emerson Banning received First-Team All-SAC honors in doubles, closing the year Top 10 regionally.

• Ilona Hernandez-Sanchez became the first player in program history to be named SAC Freshman of the Year.

• The women’s team posted a 3.83 GPA, the highest among all Coker athletic programs.

On the men’s side, Roehner helped oversee a complete roster rebuild, bringing in seven newcomers and developing one of the most improved teams in the South Atlantic Conference. The Cobras earned key wins over Newberry College and Limestone University, along with a strong regional victory over North Greenville University. Individually, Samuel Winter advanced to the Round of 32 at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship, marking one of the program’s best individual performances in recent years.

A native of Weston, Florida, Roehner played his collegiate tennis at West Liberty University (WV), where he was a multi-year team captain known for his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to team culture.

Before joining Coker, Roehner coached at the Midtown Athletic Club in Weston, Florida, under world-class coaches Luis Brest and Laurent Leclerc, where he worked with several nationally ranked junior players.

At Coker, Roehner has built a foundation centered on accountability, academic success, and relentless competitiveness, with a focus on player development, community involvement, and establishing Coker Tennis as a consistent contender in the South Atlantic Conference and Southeast Region