August 8, 2025
Chris Waterbury Named Women’s Tennis Coach at Plattsburgh State
Matthew Pitarresi, Athletics Communications Associate
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Chris Waterbury, a member of the Plattsburgh State Athletics Hall of Fame, has been named the women's tennis coach at Plattsburgh State, as announced Friday by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.
"We are thrilled to be welcoming Chris back into the Cardinal coaching ranks," Plattsburgh State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Howard said. "His extensive coaching experience, passion for the game of tennis and love of Cardinal Athletics will certainly be tremendous additions to both the tennis program and our entire coaching staff."
As a part of this role, Waterbury will oversee all practices, competitions and recruiting for the program. Kelci Henn, who served as the program's head coach from the fall of 2021 through the spring of 2025, will remain involved with the program as she transitions to a new role in the department as the Athletic Operations Assistant and Coordinator of Tennis.
Waterbury returns to the program after serving as a co-head coach along with fellow co-head coach Karen Waterbury during the 2019 season. The pair guided the Cardinals to a 7-6 overall mark and finished in a three-way tie for fourth in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) standings.
Prior to helping lead the Cardinals' women's tennis program, he spent 33 years building Plattsburgh State men's soccer into a regional and national power as its head coach, and he was inducted into the Plattsburgh State Athletic Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2018. Waterbury, who has more wins than any coach in the history of SUNYAC men's soccer and the 11th-most in the history of NCAA Division III, led the Cardinals to all eight SUNYAC titles they have earned in program history. Waterbury's teams qualified the NCAA Division III Tournament 11 times, and in 2005, he guided Plattsburgh State to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm honored to be selected to be a part of the women's tennis program once again," Waterbury said. "I'm excited to get started with the upcoming season."
"We are thrilled to be welcoming Chris back into the Cardinal coaching ranks," Plattsburgh State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Howard said. "His extensive coaching experience, passion for the game of tennis and love of Cardinal Athletics will certainly be tremendous additions to both the tennis program and our entire coaching staff."
As a part of this role, Waterbury will oversee all practices, competitions and recruiting for the program. Kelci Henn, who served as the program's head coach from the fall of 2021 through the spring of 2025, will remain involved with the program as she transitions to a new role in the department as the Athletic Operations Assistant and Coordinator of Tennis.
Waterbury returns to the program after serving as a co-head coach along with fellow co-head coach Karen Waterbury during the 2019 season. The pair guided the Cardinals to a 7-6 overall mark and finished in a three-way tie for fourth in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) standings.
Prior to helping lead the Cardinals' women's tennis program, he spent 33 years building Plattsburgh State men's soccer into a regional and national power as its head coach, and he was inducted into the Plattsburgh State Athletic Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2018. Waterbury, who has more wins than any coach in the history of SUNYAC men's soccer and the 11th-most in the history of NCAA Division III, led the Cardinals to all eight SUNYAC titles they have earned in program history. Waterbury's teams qualified the NCAA Division III Tournament 11 times, and in 2005, he guided Plattsburgh State to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm honored to be selected to be a part of the women's tennis program once again," Waterbury said. "I'm excited to get started with the upcoming season."
