Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island Athletics Department has named Malcolm M. Rasheed as its new head coach for Men’s & Women’s Tennis.  Rasheed joins the Dolphins immediately, coming off of a tremendous amateur and professional career where he also cut his craft as a coach and instructor.

“We are very excited to have Malcolm on board,” said Director Athletics Charles Gomes.  “He brings high-level experience as both a player and coach that is much-needed to this position.  His experience within Division II will help us as we start our new transition.” 

A graduate of Northwest Missouri State University, Rasheed was a standout for the Bearcats program for two years, foregoing his final season to turn professional on the ATP circuit.  Traveling the world and building international relationships, Rasheed began coaching collegiately in the United States in 2015 and then focused on professional instruction since.  He will assume coaching duties side-by-side with his position as an Assistant Tennis Professional at the Richmond County Country Club in Staten Island.

“Im excited to be here,” said Rasheed.  “I’ve only been on Staten Island for a short time so everything is really new, but I am excited to be here with a program that has been moving in the right direction, especially with the recent move to NCAA Division II. With that comes more responsibilities and expectations but that’s the fun part of being here and a part of something great.”

As a collegiate player, Rasheed posted a 23-3 Singles record in 2010 with NMSU, achieving a national ranking of 39.  The following year, he posted a 21-5 overall mark, the push he needed to turn pro.  Establishing his roots in two different European countries during his professional tour, Rasheed found his love for mentorship and coaching, and returned to the U.S. in 2015 to become an assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of Missouri – Kansas City.  There, he worked at organizing schedules, implementing practices, and working predominantly with international students from Greece, Spain, France and Egypt, to name a few.

“College tennis brings a lot more responsibility to athletes,” he remarked.  “You have to be responsive to your academics, so knowing how to prioritize your life, balancing tennis, and maximizing your time is something that I’ve taken away from being an athlete and coaching.  Understanding that lifestyle and understanding that balance is something I hope I can bring to CSI.”

In September of 2016, Rasheed focused on single player mentorship and travel coaching in Naples, Florida.  The following year, he teamed with the Robin Institute to develop private education to students ages 10-18 in Vienne, France, serving as an American ambassador to the region, teaching professionals, organizing lesson plans and strategies towards student success.  On top of these duties, Rasheed was still an active professional, receiving a world rank high of 820 while earning a Top 30 Swiss ranking.  His eclectic background makes him a unique fit with the College of Staten Island campus, where his roles as a former collegiate player and coach, individual tennis pro, and his experience as an educator, will all be counted on to lead the young program.

“Being able to come onto campus and hear the plans for the program moving forward into Division II, and to look into the eyes of the administration and see the passion for moving the entire program forward, it made me know that I wanted to be here,” Rasheed remarked.  “I want to help us win, and I look forward to working with members of the team and getting us started.”

Rasheed’s term at CSI will begin immediately.  The College conducts a women’s season in the fall and a men’s season in the spring with some crossover in-between.  The College was recently accepted as a provisional Division II member last week, and the women’s tennis season will official get underway with summer practices in late-August.

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