Get to know Skidmore College men's tennis coach, Nate Simms
 
1. You were a professional snowboard racer, you continued to play competitive tennis after college for several years, and you've been a competitive cyclist most of your adult life. You also competed in team sports like hockey and soccer through high school and into college. How does being a multi-sport athlete impact your perspective on coaching?
 
Being a multi-sport athlete has really defined many aspects of my coaching. Probably most notably through my lifelong exposure to the team dynamic. Many tennis players specialize in the sport early in life and end up being starved of essential team experiences. Our successes as a tennis team invariably come from a group of players performing in the mindset of being a part of something bigger than themselves, so this tends to be a big part of what we work on in our program. I also actively seek out multi-sport athletes in recruiting for what I believe they can bring to the program. I find that those with a more diverse athletic background tend to be more "dynamic," with generally better balance, quickness, and body awareness, and they tend to have more room for development based on that fact.
 
2. Your team has won the Liberty League Championship eight times since you've taken over, what's your secret to success?
 
First of all, I have talented players, and as I tell them all the time, I never hit a ball, and they do all the heavy lifting. That being said, from a coach's standpoint, there are a few basic things that I think lead to success. Firstly, you have to care. In our program, we are committed to developing good people and citizens, not just athletes, and if you want to affect change in that way, you have to be motivated to do the work. Secondly, you have to have a philosophy and a plan (usually many plans). But I have had great assistant coaches, supportive families, and solid support from the athletic department, so I'm just a part of the bigger picture. I also don't like to waste time in practice. We only have two hours to make a difference, so we use every minute.
 
3. Who is your biggest competition, and has there been any rivalry that has developed over time?
 
Our biggest competition is undoubtedly from the elite top-10 schools we play like Middlebury, Bowdoin, CMS, Amherst, etc. All have won national titles in the last few years, and we really embrace our "dangerous underdog" status going up against them.
 
As far as rivalries in the Liberty League go, for the last few years, it has undoubtedly been RPI.
Other teams in the league have come along, like Hobart, but RPI has forced us to play our absolute best tennis to win, and that makes it really fun. 
 
4. Skidmore Men's Tennis Team has an international flavor, how do you conduct your recruiting?
 
We have had players from all over the world in recent years, and that has made coaching more interesting with so many various perspectives and styles. We recruit in several different ways, from traveling to tournaments or showcases, relying on contacts at academies, or even using recruiting services. Recruiting can take as much time as you are able to give.
 
5. Aside from scholarships, what is the most significant difference between DI and DIII Men's Tennis?
 
The biggest difference to me is about balance in the student-athlete experience. Yes, the level on court can be significantly different when we talk about the top 40 or so d1 schools, but the d3 experience allows for a deeper engagement in the college community as a whole. It also happens to reflect the way I approach life myself, so it is a good fit for me. It is important for recruits to know, however, that the level of tennis in d3 is getting remarkably high in recent years, with numerous players turning pro, etc., so playing at this level is a serious endeavor. We have numerous wins against d1 schools as proof.
 
6. The Corona Virus has disrupted the fall season, what is your team doing to stay relevant?
 
For one, the guys have had productive summers with their training. We had players putting in the effort to create optimal training situations, often far from home, to be ready for whatever the next step is. We will practice this fall, although it is undoubtedly more challenging to train when you don't know when you will be able to play. We are optimistic, however, that we will be ready when we get the green light.
 
7. How does the Skidmore Men's Tennis team connect with the Saratoga Community?
 
We are engaged with a number of community service initiatives, and it is something our student-athletes have embraced. Of the long list, the one that is particularly near and dear to my heart (I was a former long-time employee) is our association with the 15-Love Program out of Albany. The program gives free tennis and life skills lessons to kids in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, with a focus on underserved communities. Our team runs clinics for 15-Love's tournament program, and it has been something that both sides really enjoy and benefit from. In 2018, our team won the National Community Service Award, and we have twice won the Northeast Community Service Award (2018 and 2020), so it has been nice to see the students honored for their work.
 
8. Why did you come to Skidmore, and where do you see your program headed in the next four years?
 
Well, I am originally from Troy, and while I was coaching the women's team at Middlebury, my father got sick. I wanted to be closer to home to help my mom out, but I also realized I needed a new challenge. The Skidmore opportunity came up, and here I am. As for where I see us headed, I see the sky as the limit. Each year, I need the program to take a significant step it has never taken before. So far, it feels like this has happened every year, and it has been exciting. I want to do the work to make sure this keeps happening going forward.
 
9. How will the new Indoor Tennis Facility impact your team?
 
Simply put, the impact will be massive. We need to get it done, so we don't fall back into (or behind) the pack as it relates to facilities. The options it will give us, from being able to give our players extra individual attention, to hosting tournaments, etc., will be huge. The benefits for the broader community are clear as well, so I hope the administration will quickly re-establish our pre-pandemic momentum.
 
10. Looking ahead, for your program to continue to improve, what is the essential Equipment Needs?
 
Let's call the new outdoor and indoor facilities "equipment" and put them at #1 since they were already scheduled to be built before the coronavirus pause. As for equipment outside of that, we have been looking to purchase a serving ball machine for years, but haven't been able to get it funded. It would allow us to address an under-practiced shot with regularity and could help the overall team success.