Shem Filipek embarks on his second season as head coach of the men’s tennis program at Wagner College.
In his first season leading the program, the team made program history. After finishing the regular season with an undefeated Northeast Conference (NEC) record of 5-0 and double-digit wins, the Seahawks, who were the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advanced all the way to its first-ever title match. At the end of the tournament, the league recognized two Seahawk student-athletes for the NEC’s inaugural All-Tournament team (Charlton Boyd & Allen Wang). Additionally, three Seahawks earned All-NEC First Team honors while three more were also named to the All-NEC Second Team. At season's end, the men's tennis program had the highest grade-point average for the 2017-18 academic year.
Filipek, a native of Bedzin, Poland, arrived on Grymes Hill following a highly-accomplished Division I career at Monmouth University. A tennis and academic scholarship recipient at Monmouth, while serving as team captain, he led the Hawks to their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship in school history in 2016, a feat that Monmouth repeated in 2017
During his time in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth compiled an overall record of 56-39 while going an impressive 26-2 in league contests. Filipek concluded his career with 53 singles wins, 36 of which coming out of the Flight No. 2 position. Filipek was an All-MAAC First Team - Second Singles selection in 2016 and a First Team choice in No. 1 doubles in 2016 and 2017.
In addition to his playing ability, Filipek is the owner/instructor of his own private tennis instructing business and also has experience providing tennis lessons at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT.
Before enrolling at Monmouth, he was ranked as high as 1624 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Singles Ranking and 1422 in the ATP Doubles Rankings. He was also among the top-15 junior players in the U12, U14, U16, and U18 National Rankings.
Filipek was also a two-time Team National Champion. Along with other team members, which included, Jerzy Janowicz., who was ranked as high as No. 14 back in August of 2013 and is the first Polish man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal at the 2013 Wimbledon Championship, in which he was defeated by eventual champion, Andy Murray.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Filipek is pursuing a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in finance.
