Get to know your coaches: Head Tennis Coach Patrick Hynes
Photo by Reily Rogers courtesy of Lee Athletic Communications
Coach Patrick Hynes, Australia native and head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams, has an overall record of 137-107 at Lee. Hynes says tennis wasn’t his first “love,” but it has been his longest. He started playing at the age of six and has not looked back since.
“All of my best friendships were made at my local tennis club. I spent all of my hours as a kid at that place,” Hynes said.
Hynes credits his mentors in his home country for his development in the sport.
“These people taught me some great lessons about respect for opposition and doing things the right way,” Hynes said. “To this day, I carry their advice along with me.”
In the late 1990s, Hynes came to the United States to play collegiate tennis at Lees-McRae University. When he graduated summa cum laude in 2000, he became the winningest singles player in the program’s history.
“I loved the team environment, the college atmosphere and the opportunities that were presented to me along the way,” Hynes said. “I also met my wife there, so it was an incredible four years.”
Hynes served as an assistant coach at Lees-McCrae following his graduation and he accepted the head coaching position at Presbyterian College in South Carolina in 2005. His teams were successful, but what Hynes remembers most were the hardships he and his family faced off the court.
“In 2007, we were pregnant with our first child [Miriam]. My wife [Judi] had an aneurysm and almost died,” Hynes said. “It was a really tough time.”
After Judi recovered and Miriam was born, Hyne’s perspective shifted.
“What it taught me was that while tennis matters, there are much more important things in our lives,” he said. “It helped to balance my perspective and to be honest, that was something that I needed and something that has served me well since.”
In 2015, Lee University hired Hynes to lead the men’s and women’s tennis programs.
“[Coach Hynes] understands the mission of our university and will fit in well with our coaching staff,” said Athletic Director Larry Carpenter.
Hynes said he and his family were unsure of what was to come, but instantly felt they belonged on campus and within Lee’s culture.
“We didn’t know much about what it was like here, but after coming for a visit, we fell in love with the school straight away,” he said. “My son Graeme is 11, and his favorite part of the day is coming here after school and playing pick-up basketball, soccer and racquetball with the college kids.”
Coach Hynes is now entering his eighth season at Lee. When Hynes accepted the position as head coach, his goals for the team mirrored his own as a player — to be successful both in the classroom and on the court.
Hynes’ recruitment of international athletes has been a staple of his coaching. Jordi Dasi, sophomore business major from Valencia, Spain, was a professional tennis player in Spain and traveled to the states to play for Lee.
“I went to Lee specifically because of Coach Hynes,” Dasi said. “Being away from my family, I would consider him as a father because he is the person who tries to lead me and all my teammates on the right path and helps us do things in the best possible way. I only have good words towards him because it is truly what I feel.”
Dasi was Gulf South Conference freshman of the week twice in 2021, and even with his success, he says he continues to work hard to improve.
“[He] really cares about me both on and off the court,” Dasi said. “I think that’s what I like most about Coach Hynes. I still remember the first practice sessions when he came to ask me how I felt and what my sensations were. I also remember, with great affection, that he has always trusted me fully at the time of the games.”
For more information about the men’s and women’s tennis teams, visit leeuflames.com
