Bio

Bruce Perry – Women’s Tennis Head Coach
First Season at HVCC: 2019-20
Enters 4th Season as Women’s Tennis Head Coach in 2024-25

Coach Bruce Perry enters his sixth season at Hudson Valley Community College and his fourth season as head coach of the women’s tennis program. Previously, he served as an assistant women’s basketball coach from 2019-2023, where he was instrumental in recruiting student-athletes to the program.

Under Coach Perry's guidance, the women’s tennis program has experienced significant growth and success. Starting the 2024-25 season with a strong roster, the program aims to compete at the top level in NJCAA Region 3, building on its recent accomplishments.

In the 2023-24 season, Coach Perry led a well-rounded team with 12 student-athletes, aiming to contend for the NJCAA Region 3 championship during the spring championship season. The team continues to build on a solid foundation set in previous years. The women’s tennis program won its first Region 3 championship since 1998 and earned a berth to the NJCAA National Championships in Chattanooga, TN, where they placed fifth overall. Keely Legnard placed second overall at the No. 1 singles flight and was named to the NJCAA All-America Second Team for her tremendous performance.

In 2022-23, the program achieved a major milestone by placing second in the Region 3 championships, earning a spot at the NJCAA national championships in Peachtree, GA, where the team finished sixth overall. This marked one of the program’s strongest finishes in recent years.

In 2021-22, the program returned to competition post-pandemic with a limited roster of four athletes, led by top-flight singles player Emma Nuzzi. Despite the challenges, the team qualified for the Region 3 postseason, showcasing resilience and determination.

Coach Perry is also an accomplished basketball coach with over two decades of experience. Since his first assistant coaching role at the Junior College of Albany in 2000, he has accumulated 267 career wins in women’s college basketball, serving as an assistant coach at institutions including SUNY Cobleskill, Sage Colleges, and HVCC.

Throughout his basketball career, Coach Perry has helped guide five teams to 20+ win seasons. Notably, he contributed to the success of the 2014 Sage Colleges team that won the Skyline Conference title and competed in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. His teams have been nationally ranked as high as #5 and #7 overall and reached #2 in the nation for team defense.

During his time at SUNY Cobleskill, Coach Perry helped the team win the Division III NEAC regular season title in its inaugural NCAA season after transitioning from the NJCAA. He has recruited and coached numerous standout student-athletes, including five 1,000-point scorers, two players with over 1,000 rebounds, and an Athlete of the Year honoree.

Coach Perry is an active member of the Basketball Coaches Association of New York, receiving the Assistant Coaches Award in 2015, and is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, attending their annual conference regularly.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Cornell University
• Master’s Degree, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

Coach Perry’s extensive coaching experience and commitment to both tennis and basketball make him a valued leader at HVCC, where he continues to inspire student-athletes to excel both on and off the court.

Updated: 11/20/24