Sam Lapides
Sam Lapides
  • Title:
    Assistant Coach
  • Previous College:
    Purdue, '18
  • Bachelor's Degree:
    Mechanical Engineering

Bio

Sam Lapides joined the Carnegie Mellon University tennis staff as an assistant coach in the fall of 2021.

Lapides assisted the men's program to a 6-12 record, two wins against nationally-ranked opponents, a sixth-place UAA finish, and a national ranking of 24 in his first season while the women's program competed in the NCAA tournament finishing in the top 16. The women's team closed the year ranked 11th in the country with six All-America awards and a third-place finish at the UAA Championship.

Lapides is a graduate of Purdue University where he majored in mechanical engineering while playing for the club tennis team. Lapides was the number one men's player and competed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles and had an undefeated first season. During his freshman season, the Purdue club team finished third in the nation at the national championship and Lapides was named the team's most valuable player all four seasons.

Lapides has also played professional tennis on the ITF Futures tour, playing in qualifying draws of tournaments located in USA, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Lapides also played on the French Summer Tour, winning three French titles during the summer of 2019. He was offered mulitple professional contracts with French tennis clubs but was unable to pursue the opportunity due to COVID-19.

The 2018 Purdue graduate has been the head tennis instructor at Dexter-Southfield Enrichment Camp and the lead instructor of the elite players group at Lapides Tennis Academy. Lapides also worked as an instructor for ACEing autism, teaching autistic children who wanted to learn and play the game of tennis. Lapides has also been a professional hitting and training partner for five players currently or formerly ranked by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

Lapides is currently pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon with a focus in robotics.