Head Coach Richard Goldenson leads the Santa Monica College Women’s Tennis team.  Coach Goldenson is one of the most successful women’s tennis coaches in the California Junior College circles.  During his career as head coach at Santa Monica College his teams have won numerous Western State Conference (WSC) Championships and in 2011 won the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Women’s Tennis Championship. 

Coach Goldenson is a 25 year veteran of coaching tennis, and in his 14 years at SMC, he as coached many all conference players and has helped a number of them transfer to four year universities on Full Athletic scholarships.  

 Coach Goldenson’s accomplishments:

2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 - WSC Coach of the Year 

2011 - CCCAA State Champions

State Singles Champion, State Doubles Champion to complete the triple crown of CCCAA tennis.

2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 - WSC Champions
Each of these teams was undefeated in WSC competition and the 2011 state champion team finished the season with a perfect 17-0 record.

To date, among California Community Colleges, the SMC women’s tennis team has the highest overall number of student-athletes who have earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Scholar-Athlete award.  In 2004 and 2014 the team earned the All-Academic Team Honor.

“ My goal as the head coach is to create an environment that enables students to succeed first in the classroom and then on the court.  I also want to help the student-athletes here at SMC focus on what they need to do to perform their best.  To sum up my coaching philosophy, I strive to help athletes focus on the task at hand as opposed to the outcome.  If that can be done, the student-athlete will have success and most importantly, will improve her skills as a tennis player.  I am looking for an athlete that has a desire to compete and to be a team player.”

Coach Goldenson earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University.  He earned his Masters Degree in Kinesiology from Cal State Northridge and is currently working toward his Ed. D at Cal State Northridge.