Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 816-235-5831
Dante Cipulli is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach with the UMKC tennis program.
Cipulli initially joined the program during the 2007-08 school year, where he coached four 'Roos to all-league recognition. After stepping away from the program to venture into the business world in 2008-09, Cipulli rejoined the coaching staff in 2009-10, where he has coached the men's (17) and women's teams (12) to school record victory totals since returning. Cipulli also coached 13 all-Summit League student-athletes, which included 2010 Summit League Player of the Year Patrick Smith and 2011 Summit League Player of the Year Nino Hasandedic.
In the 2011 season, Cipulli helped the men's program to its second league title, second league tournament title and second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last three seasons, as well as helping guide the squad to the Athletic Director's Association Award for the highest finishing program among Division I-AAA schools. In all five players were selected as all-League performers, including Nino Hasandedic being named The Summit League Player and Newcomer of the Year.
On the women's side, Cipulli helped the 'Roos to a school record 12 wins and a runner-up finish in The Summit League Tournament, the highest finish ever by the 'Roos. Under his leadership, Laura Bouet garnered her second straight appearance on the all-Summit League Team.
Academically, 12 Kangaroos (six men/six women) were named to the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence and 14 (eight men/six women) were named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic all-League Team.During his first stint with the Kangaroos, Cipulli helped guide the men’s team to a 6-9 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Summit League play and the women’s squad to a 3-12 overall and a 3-5 league record. One of the women’s victories - a 7-0 win over Centenary - snapped the program’s 58-match losing streak.
Prior to coming to UMKC, Cipulli served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Southwest Baptist, for two seasons from 2005-07. Before joining the coaching ranks, Cipulli played for the Bearcats for three seasons from 2002-05. During his that time, he was twice named an ITA All-American, won two MIAA Most Valuable Player awards, and was a two-time unanimous all-MIAA First Team selection. Additionally, he finished his career with a school record 110 singles victories.
As a senior,
Cipulli won the ITA NCAA Division II Singles National Championship and
the Small Colleges Super Bowl Championship. With that win, he advanced
to the NCAA Division I National Championships, where he posted a 2-2
record. He also guided SBU to three straight MIAA Championship and NCAA
Tournament appearances.
As a result, Cipulli was named the ITA
Division II National Player of the Year, the ITA Regional Player of the
Year, the ITA Division II Senior Player of the Year, and he was voted
an ITA All-Star. In Feb. 2005, the state of Missouri recognized Cipulli
for his tennis accomplishments, as he was awarded the Missouri Sports
Achievement Award for winning his national championship.
In
2003-04, Cipulli was the national runner-up in singles, and he finished
third in the country in doubles. He finished the year ranked No. 2 in
the nation in singles and No. 22 in doubles. During his first season as
SBU, he was named the North Central Rookie of the Year, as he was
ranked 35th in the nation in singles.
Cipulli, a native of
Tucuman, Argentina, graduated from Southwest Baptist with an
undergraduate degree in business administration/international business
in 2005. He then went on to earn his MBA from SBU in the summer of
2007.
