Villanova, Pa. – Villanova University is proud to announce a $1 million leadership gift from AJ '02 and Melissa Rohde to create the Villanova Tennis Endowed Fund. This historic commitment—the first seven-figure gift and largest in program history—creates lasting opportunities for student-athletes while strengthening the financial future of Villanova Tennis.

"We are grateful to AJ and Melissa Rohde for their visionary leadership and extraordinary generosity in establishing the Villanova Tennis Endowed Fund," shared Eric Roedl '97, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Their transformational commitment to Villanova Athletics and our tennis programs will provide enduring support and help ensure a first-class experience for our current and future Villanova tennis student-athletes. Having a former Villanova men's tennis student-athlete make this kind of investment in the continued growth and excellence of our program makes this gift especially meaningful. It speaks not only to the impact Villanova had on AJ's journey, but to the strength and pride of our tennis community."

The gift also establishes the Rohde Family Endowed Men's Tennis Head Coach position and advances key program priorities, including sports performance, student-athlete services, enhanced travel and capital improvements that strengthen both Men's and Women's Tennis.

Rohde, a four-year member of the Villanova Men's Tennis team and former team captain, reflected on the gift: "Captaining the Villanova Tennis team almost 25 years ago was one of the great privileges of my life.  As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, Melissa and I wanted to help underscore the concept that all sports deserve financial and operational support, and we hope our gift can inspire other athletic alums to contribute and partner with Eric, the Athletic Department and the University to ensure the vitality of student athletes and the competitiveness of our programs across the board."

This is the sixth head coaching position to be endowed at the University joining Football (Thomas and Diane Treacy Endowed Football Head Coach), Field Hockey (Villanova University Endowed Field Hockey Head Coach), Men's Basketball (William B. Finneran Endowed Men's Basketball Head Coach), Men's Cross Country and Track & Field (Frank J. Kelly Endowed Track & Field Coach) and Men's Lacrosse (DiLoreto Family Endowed Men's Lacrosse Head Coach).

"This endowment is incredibly meaningful to me, both as the head coach of this program and on a personal level," shared newly endowed head coach Brad Adams '03. "I have known AJ since our days competing and training in junior tennis and continuing through our time playing on the Villanova Men's Tennis Team. We truly grew up in this sport together.  I have seen firsthand his passion for Villanova Tennis and his belief in what the school and program can do for young people."   

Adams along with Women's Tennis head coach Steve Reiniger, "The Rohde family's generosity not only strengthens the foundation of our Division I Tennis programs but ensures long-term stability and excellence for our student athletes for years to come.  We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our university and proud of what this means for our future.  Go Cats!"

About Brad Adams
Brad Adams is in his 19^th season as the head coach of Villanova Men's Tennis in 2025-26. Adams is a 2003 graduate of Villanova who was a senior co-captain during his undergraduate playing days. He compiled 48 career wins at the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles positions in the lineup. In his years as head coach, Adams has gained a reputation for player development and has guided his players to five All-BIG EAST honors and 13 weekly conference awards. In addition, his student-athletes have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes 37 times and the Wildcats have been an ITA All-Academic Team in each of the past four years.

About Villanova Men's and Women's Tennis
The men's and women's varsity tennis programs hold a unique place in Villanova history, as the men's team was originally founded in the early 1900's and reestablished in 1967 after a 25-year absence. The women's team was one of the Wildcats first varsity women's sports when it debuted in 1968 under Hall of Fame coach Robert Langran. In addition to Langran, there are 10 former tennis student-athletes (six men, four women) enshrined in the Varsity Club Hall of Fame. The women's program has reached the semifinal round of the BIG EAST Championship three times in the last six years and is coming off its first-ever berth in the conference championship match. The men's team has also advanced as far as the BIG EAST final and has produced one BIG EAST singles champion.