Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Reich has announced the hiring of Matthew Lichtenstein as the men's and women's tennis head coach. Lichtenstein is a Wingate alum, playing for the Bulldogs from 2008 through 2012.

"Returning to Wingate is a dream come true," Lichtenstein says. "My time at the university shaped me as an athlete and, even more importantly, as a person. The values and perspective I gained as a student-athlete opened countless doors and played a tremendous role in shaping the person and coach I have become. Returning as the head tennis coach ties together many of the experiences that have defined my young adulthood. I know I have big shoes to fill, but I am incredibly excited and honored by the opportunity to lead this program into the future. I am grateful for the chance to give back to a place that has given me so much, and I can't wait to return to the bulldog family."

Lichtenstein earned his undergraduate degree at Wingate in 2012, graduating Magna Cum Laude. A member of the National History Honors Society, Lichtenstein was named the team's MVP in 2009. He helped lead the Bulldogs to three regular season SAC titles and a conference tournament championship. Lichtenstein compiled a 51-16 record during his singles career, going 25-4 against conference opponents. He was 49-23 in his doubles career at Wingate. A three-time All-SAC honoree, Lichtenstein earned first team accolades in 2010 and 2011. He was named a third team Academic All-America honoree during his senior season.

"It is great to have Matt Lichtenstein back in the fold," Reich says. "Matt has a great understanding of Wingate and what makes this place special. He is a fantastic hire for us. He also brings great technical tennis coaching experience with him."

Lichtenstein earned his Masters in InterAmerican Studies from Universitat Bielefeld in Germany in 2019. He served as the Director of the U-14 Junior Development Programming at the Junior Tennis Champions Center at Bolles, also serving as the head coach of the high school boys team. He helped prepare international tennis players for college tennis, working with players from Italy, China, Brazil and Malaysia, among other countries around the world. He then began working as an English Teaching Assistant at the Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia, which he earned a Fulbright Grant for. Lichtenstein represented the United States as a cultural ambassador in Colombia. He has served as an Intelligence Analyst at the Zurich Insurance group since 2025.

Lichtenstein will take over a Wingate tennis program that has piled up the hardware for over a decade. The Bulldog women have piled up 12 regular season titles and seven tourney championships since 2011, while the men have collected 10 regular season titles and seven tournament championships during that time.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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