Men's Tennis
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 719-333-7142
Dan Oosterhous is the associate athletic director for recruiting. Oosterhous transitioned into the new role in July 2023, after completing his 14th season as the head coach of the Air Force Academy men’s tennis team in 2022-23. He led the Falcons to a 148-175 career record, including an 8-5 record over service academy rivals Army and Navy.
Air Force is coming off its second straight winning season in 2023 and the third in the last four seasons at 12-11. The Falcons picked up their first-ever win over Navy this season in front of a packed house at the USTA National Campus in front of over 1,500 fans during College Match Day. The Falcons earned a national ranking of #63 on Feb. 21, 2023, tying for the highest ranking in program history. Team captain Jonny Mascagni and sophomore Arjun Kersten earned All-Mountain West honors. Kersten also picked up All-MW singles honors after a 7-3 record at No. 1 singles in duals play. Freshman Phillip Deaton was named MW Freshman of the Year, the first Falcon to do so since 2003.
The Falcons were 15-9 overall in 2021-22, while posting a 3-3 record in conference play to tie for third place after the regular season. The 15 wins are the most in Oosterhous’ career and the three conference wins and third place finish are both the best since Air Force joined the Mountain West in 2000. In MW play, the Falcons earned their first-ever win at UNLV with a dramatic 4-3 victory in Las Vegas, beat eventual MW champion Nevada 4-1, and had a thrilling 4-2 win over Utah State on senior day. Oosterhous’ team went undefeated in doubles play against MW opponents during the regular season, continuing their dominance in MW doubles points with a 17-3 record over the last three years. The Falcons competed against Army West Point at the USTA National Campus on Feb 18, 2022, in front of a crowd of 1,500 fans during College Match Day. Following an alumni match that saw graduates of both schools from six decades share the court together, Oosterhous’ team defeated West Point 4-0 for the first shut-out victory in the history of the series. The Falcons earned a national ranking of #69 on Feb 23, 2022, the team’s highest ranking in eight years. Team captain Robert Baylon and junior Jonny Mascagni both were named to the Mountain West all-conference singles team and seniors Robert Baylon and Jordan Azuma received all-conference doubles honors after finishing their careers with a 9-1 MW doubles record.
The Falcons also had a banner season in the classroom, earning Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic team recognition for the third consecutive year, along with three ITA Scholar-Athletes. The team also landed five players on the Academic All-Mountain West team, Jonny Mascagni (‘23), Justin Waldman (‘23), Nick Vroman (‘24), Kyle Garner (‘25) and Luke Wolf (‘25), and three players were named MW Scholar-Athletes.
In the 2021 season, the Falcon’s signature win came against San Diego State for the team’s first victory over the Aztecs in 32 years. In a shortened 2020 season, the Falcons defeated Army West Point 4-2 at USC in Los Angeles. In 2019, the Falcons had a thrilling 4-2 win over Army West Point during College Match Day on national TV at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida. The Air Force men’s and women’s teams played alongside each other in a record-breaking event for attendance and won the first-ever simultaneous dual match featuring two service academies. Oosterhous secured his 100th career win vs Southern Utah on Feb 24, 2019. His team was recognized as the 2019 Mountain Region Community Service award winner for their work with Special Olympics and Wounded Warriors. In 2019, team captain Isaac Perez received the highest honor ever for an Air Force men’s tennis player when he was named the Men’s Division I National Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner, receiving his award at the 2019 US Open in New York City.
Oosterhous’ other career coaching highlights include a win over #49 nationally-ranked BYU in 2014 and the highest-ever team ranking for the Air Force Academy at #63 in Feb 2014. In the 2013 season, Oosterhous coached Lance Wilhelm (‘13) to four wins over nationally-ranked players and finished the season ranked 78th in the nation, the second-highest ever for an Air Force Academy tennis player. Oosterhous has coached 11 players to all-conference honors including Jonny Mascagni (‘23), Robert Baylon (‘22), Jordan Azuma (‘22), Paul Hendrix (’21), Jamie Bautista (’21), Patrick Sklenka (’21), Tadhg Collins (’19), Lucas Fumagalli (’17), Jack McCullers (’16), Grant Taylor (’15), and Lance Wilhelm (’13).
During his tenure, Oosterhous’ athletes have consistently received recognition for academic and leadership excellence. 18 of his players have earned Academic All-Mountain West honors and eight have been named MW Scholar-Athletes, including Luke Wolf (‘25), Nick Vroman (‘24), Justin Waldman (’23), Jason Wild (’23), Sean McKendree (’21), Lucas Fumagalli (’17), Nico Carpenter (’17) and Mike Tope (’12). In 2017, Lucas Fumagalli became the program’s first-ever three-time Academic All-American. For the 2017-2019 seasons, the Falcons received the NCAA Public Recognition Award for achieving a top 10 percent Academic Progress Rate among all tennis teams in the NCAA. Six of Oosterhous’ players have received the ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award for the mountain region, Robert Baylon (‘22), Paul Hendrix (‘21), Isaac Perez (’19), Lucas Fumagalli (’17), Jack McCullers (’16), and Grant Taylor (’15).
Oosterhous is an active leader among college tennis coaches, currently serving on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Operating Committee. In addition, he has been a member of the NCAA Division I tennis subcommittee and served as the chairperson of the Mountain Region coaches committee.
During the 2013 season, Oosterhous suffered two brain stem strokes that resulted in a substantial loss of function in his left arm and leg. Since then, Oosterhous has made significant strides in his recovery, owing much to the support of his three children, Emma, Anna, and Andrew and the rehabilitative power of competition. Oosterhous has fueled his recovery through opportunities in adaptive sports as a member of the 2014 Air Force Wounded Warrior team and a member of the 2014 and 2016 USA Invictus Games team. Oosterhous has earned medals in swimming at the 2014 Warrior Games and in cycling at the 2016 Invictus Games. In 2014, he received USAFA’s General Mal Wakin Character and Leadership Award for his inspirational work with cadets and resiliency during recovery.
Oosterhous, a native of Texarkana, Texas, graduated from USAFA in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is one of the best tennis players in the Academy’s history. Oosterhous had 113 wins at the #1 singles and #1 doubles positions, ranking second all-time among Air Force players at #1. He was selected to the all-conference team all four years, received the team’s most valuable player award three times, and served as co-captain during his senior year, leading the team to a 25-2 record. During his 21-year Air Force career, Oosterhous achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, served in multiple combat-support overseas deployments, and accumulated over 3,100 hours as an instructor pilot in three aircraft: the C-5, C-21 and T-53.
