Ryan Lipman

Entering his sixth season with the Commodores and third as associate head coach in 2022-23, Lipman continues to guide the Commodores to success.

Alongside head coach Ian Duvenhage, Lipman helped guide the team to a 14-12 overall record for the 2022 season, capturing two victories over SEC foes and going undefeated against Big Ten opponents (3-0). The Commodores conquered 11 victories at home and held a six-match winning streak to begin the season. With Duvenhage, Lipman coached fifth-year senior George Harwell to first team All-SEC honors and the NCAA Singles Championship, along with guiding five Dores into the final ITA individual rankings.

In the shortened 2020 season, Lipman helped guided the Commodores to seven dual match victories and notched their first conference win over Auburn before the season was cut short. Vanderbilt commanded a strong start to the season with wins over Nebraska and Belmont in the the opening day of dual matches. In the ITA Kick-Off, Vanderbilt finished the weekend with a 4-2 win over Indiana and went on to hold a three-match win streak. Vanderbilt finished the shortened season 1-3 in SEC play and 7-6 overall.

In his second season as assistant coach, Lipman guided the team to a 16-12 overall record, capping four victories over SEC foes. The Commodores conquered nine victories at home and held a six-match winning streak. In tournament play, the Dores advanced to the second round of the SEC Championships and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals, clinching a 4-3 victory over Notre Dame. The Dores wrapped up the season falling to Ohio State in the NCAA tournament. Individually, Lipman helped coached senior Cameron Klinger and junior Billy Rowe advance to the NCAA doubles tournament and earn All-American status.

In 2017, Lipman led the Dores to success in his first season debut as assistant coach. Lipman helped guide the Dores to a 19-9 overall season, earning 7 wins over SEC opponents. Lipman also helped lead the Commodores to the SEC tournament where the Dores advanced to the quarterfinals as well as making an appearance at the 2018 NCAA tournament.

Lipman joined the Commodore staff as the assistant men’s tennis coach in the July of 2017.

A Nashville native, Lipman joins the Dores following a season under fellow Vanderbilt alum Bobby Reynolds as the assistant coach of the Auburn Tigers. At the time, Lipman was one of seven former VU student-athletes to serve on a Commodore coaching staff.

Lipman was the Dores’ first three-time All-American and premier SEC Freshman of the Year. He compiled several records during his five seasons in Nashville, including two which still stand; singles season doubles wins (30) and career doubles wins (36). Ryan served as the squad’s volunteer assistant coach throughout his redshirt season as well as the 2015 season.

“My decision to fill that role with Ryan Lipman was really a no-brainer,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage, “because nobody is more familiar with our program than he is. When I started telling people in our administration that I was thinking about bringing Ryan back, everyone was excited. That’s indicative of the kind of individual Ryan is. Ryan played here, volunteered here and understands first-hand what we’re all about. He loves Vanderbilt University and Nashville and is thrilled to be back.”

As a student-athlete, Lipman rose as high as No. 1 in the nation in doubles and No. 4 in singles, and he currently sits second all-time in VU men’s tennis combined wins (174) and third in singles victories (96). For his exemplary attitude on and off the court, Lipman was named the team’s captain and received the prestigious ITA Ohio Valley Arthur Ashe Award for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

In August of 2014 Lipman became the winningest player in Vanderbilt tennis history, amassing 174 combined singles and doubles wins, two better than the previous record set by Scott Brown.

Alongside doubles partner, Gonzales Austin, the two became the first Commodore players to earn ITA All-America honors in doubles. Additionally, they became the first to earn both singles and doubles All-America honors in the same season. Together Lipman and Austin finished the year at No. 3 in doubles play. The duo set both the single season and career wins record for a Commodore doubles team with 30 and 36, respectively.

Lipman is the first three-time All-American in Vanderbilt men’s tennis history. The Nashville native received the ITA Ohio Valley Arthur Ashe Award for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.