Hoeland, Levy enjoying return to area
By: Bob Nuse – Sports Editor
Chris Hoeland enjoyed a successful tennis playing career while at Washington University in St. Louis. Once he was finished, he needed to make a decision as far as what sort of career path to take.
As it turned out, that decision led him back to Princeton, where he had enjoyed a successful tennis playing career at Princeton High School.
"I knew when I graduated that I wanted to be in sports one way or another," said Hoeland, who helped Washington University to the 2008 NCAA Division III championship. "I was looking for a lot of jobs with sports franchises. But that turned out to be pretty hard. I stayed in St. Louis the summer after graduating and didn’t find anything."
While in St. Louis, he found out about a job opening back in his hometown as an assistant to with the Princeton University men’s tennis program. His college coach had run into PU coach Glenn Michibata at a tournament in Michigan and the word got back to Hoeland about the opening at PU. He got the job and after one year couldn’t be happier with the experience.
"I love it," Hoeland said. "It’s probably been the perfect fit for me so far in terms of staying active. I’d prefer not to be behind a desk at this point in my life. So the fact that I get to hit with the guys, sometimes for four hours a day when the season is in full swing, is a lot of fun. Sometimes it gets a little bit tiring the fourth or fifth hour. But I have no complaints at all."
In addition to coaching, Hoeland has also been able to keep playing some himself. Earlier this summer he played in the US Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mercer County Park. And this past week he played in the James E. Cryan Memorial Tournament.
At the Cryan, Hoeland and former PHS teammate Ilia Shatashvili reached the semifinals of the Men’s Open Doubles before falling. In the Men’s Open Singles draw, Hoeland reached the quarterfinals before dropping a close match to third-seeded Michael Lampa. In the Men’s Open Singles final, Shatashvili dropped a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 decision to top-seeded Yevgeny Supeko.
"I try to play just about every day," said Hoeland, a three-time All-America selection at doubles who set a school record with 104 wins at WUSL. Between Ilia and Glenn I have some good practice partners. I am not playing every day, but I am playing regularly. I’m still enjoying it."
Right now, his playing career takes a back seat to coaching.
"I really enjoy it," Hoeland said. "I am not sure where my path is going to take me. But for right now I enjoy it. I have not done a lot of thinking about what I would do after coaching if I were to do something else."

