Columbia Announces Endowment of Head Coach of Men's Tennis
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
NEW YORK ? Columbia University has announced the establishment of an endowment for the head coaching position for varsity men's tennis. The endowment will be named The Bidyut K. Goswami Head Coach of Men's Tennis upon the retirement of Goswami, who has led the Lions to six Ivy League titles in his 26 years as Columbia's men's head tennis coach.
Philip Milstein '71CC, Vice Chair of the University Trustees and a former Columbia tennis player, surprised Goswami with the announcement of the endowment on campus this evening.
The endowment, part of the $100 million Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence, has been made possible through a total of $2 million in gifts from Milstein, Evan Ratner '85CC, Steven Kantor '88CC, Gary Jacobs '85CC, Navroz Udwadia '97CC, and several other former Columbia tennis players and friends of the program.
“I am thrilled to be able to support the loyalty, dedication and excellence that Bid Goswami has personified in his tenure at Columbia,” said Milstein, Co-Chair of The Columbia Campaign. “Bid has had such an important impact on all his student-athletes. This is one step in ensuring his influence impacts future generations of Columbians.”
The announcement, made in the Trustees Room of Columbia's Low Memorial Library, was attended by alumni and friends of Columbia Tennis, President Lee C. Bollinger, and Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education.
“We thank Philip, Evan and all the supporters of the endowment for their generosity and leadership with this contribution,” Murphy notes. “The trailblazing gift to men's tennis benefits our entire athletics program, and is a tremendous stride in The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence.”
Now in his 27th year as head coach of the men's varsity tennis team, Goswami has guided the Lions to six Ivy League Championships, including a dramatic finish to the 2007 season to earn a share of the title last spring. In recognition of his team's accomplishment, he was named the 2007 Wilson/ITA Regional Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region.
“This is a wonderful tribute to an outstanding individual,” Murphy says. “Bid Goswami exemplifies the excellence and integrity of our entire athletics program.”
Goswami's teams have posted a record of 309-128 (.707), making him one of the winningest coaches in Columbia history. He has had 10 former student-athletes go from Columbia to the professional tour, including Jeff Chiang, the 1990 Collegiate Senior Player of the Year, Phil Williamson, the 1987 EITA Player of the Year, and Rob Kresberg, who went on to become head women's tennis coach at Columbia. Goswami also has seen 28 of his student-athletes named first team All-Ivy League in singles during his tenure.
Until Goswami's retirement at an undetermined date, the endowment's title will be The Columbia Tennis Alumni and Friends Head Coach of Men's Tennis. The University does not permit endowed titles to include the name of the person holding endowed position. The gift marks the third endowed head coaching position at Columbia; the other two are The Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football, and the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.
On Friday, October 12, Columbia University launched The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence, a $100 million initiative in support of “people, places, and programs.” To date, Columbia has raised $47 million toward the overall goal.
Philip Milstein '71CC, Vice Chair of the University Trustees and a former Columbia tennis player, surprised Goswami with the announcement of the endowment on campus this evening.
The endowment, part of the $100 million Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence, has been made possible through a total of $2 million in gifts from Milstein, Evan Ratner '85CC, Steven Kantor '88CC, Gary Jacobs '85CC, Navroz Udwadia '97CC, and several other former Columbia tennis players and friends of the program.
“I am thrilled to be able to support the loyalty, dedication and excellence that Bid Goswami has personified in his tenure at Columbia,” said Milstein, Co-Chair of The Columbia Campaign. “Bid has had such an important impact on all his student-athletes. This is one step in ensuring his influence impacts future generations of Columbians.”
The announcement, made in the Trustees Room of Columbia's Low Memorial Library, was attended by alumni and friends of Columbia Tennis, President Lee C. Bollinger, and Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education.
“We thank Philip, Evan and all the supporters of the endowment for their generosity and leadership with this contribution,” Murphy notes. “The trailblazing gift to men's tennis benefits our entire athletics program, and is a tremendous stride in The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence.”
Now in his 27th year as head coach of the men's varsity tennis team, Goswami has guided the Lions to six Ivy League Championships, including a dramatic finish to the 2007 season to earn a share of the title last spring. In recognition of his team's accomplishment, he was named the 2007 Wilson/ITA Regional Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region.
“This is a wonderful tribute to an outstanding individual,” Murphy says. “Bid Goswami exemplifies the excellence and integrity of our entire athletics program.”
Goswami's teams have posted a record of 309-128 (.707), making him one of the winningest coaches in Columbia history. He has had 10 former student-athletes go from Columbia to the professional tour, including Jeff Chiang, the 1990 Collegiate Senior Player of the Year, Phil Williamson, the 1987 EITA Player of the Year, and Rob Kresberg, who went on to become head women's tennis coach at Columbia. Goswami also has seen 28 of his student-athletes named first team All-Ivy League in singles during his tenure.
Until Goswami's retirement at an undetermined date, the endowment's title will be The Columbia Tennis Alumni and Friends Head Coach of Men's Tennis. The University does not permit endowed titles to include the name of the person holding endowed position. The gift marks the third endowed head coaching position at Columbia; the other two are The Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football, and the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.
On Friday, October 12, Columbia University launched The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence, a $100 million initiative in support of “people, places, and programs.” To date, Columbia has raised $47 million toward the overall goal.
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