Tim Cianciola ’22 recalled the relentless running and full-throttle intensity of the first week of men’s tennis practice under coach David Schilling ’89.
Cianciola was part of the search committee tasked with selecting a new coach in 2020. He favored Schilling, a longtime Ohio State University assistant coach, but four years later Cianciola laughed about the memories of those early culture-shifting training sessions.
“He had us working hard,” Cianciola said. “I can remember thinking, ‘Did I make a mistake with my choice?’ But it didn’t take long to see how coach Schilling’s plan was going to pay off for us.”
Cianciola blossomed into an All-American under Schilling’s guidance, and the Big Red program has enjoyed its most successful stretch, posting an 80-16 record and qualifying for four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
In 2024, Denison reached the NCAA Division III Elite Eight for the first time in history, and Schilling aspires to win a national championship in the next two seasons with his junior-laden nucleus.
“David’s vast experience in Division III and Division I made him the quintessential candidate to take a strong program to the next level,” Denison athletic director Nan Carney-DeBord said. “He has done just that.”
‘Sleeping giant’
Schilling had opportunities to become a head coach during his two-decade stint with the national powerhouse Buckeyes, but didn’t act on them.
When the Denison job came open in 2020, Schilling was intrigued. He previously had coached at the College of Wooster and Kenyon College and knew the Division III talent level was vastly improving.
In researching the Big Red vacancy, Schilling was impressed by the leadership of President Adam Weinberg and the direction of the athletic department under Carney-DeBord.
“I kept hearing Denison was a sleeping giant,” he said.
Schilling was a member of four consecutive NCAC title teams as a player and had a treasure chest of great memories from his time on The Hill.
“This is a special, special place for me,” he said. “There’s a great sense of community here. It just felt like I was coming home.”
(Photo by Zoie Fisher)
Team camaraderie
Schilling looks for three traits in Big Red players: a willingness to work, a desire to compete, and a commitment to support teammates.
Every coach is searching for talent, and Schilling is no exception. But it’s the intangibles that often change cultures and transform good programs into great ones.
“In junior tennis, you’re playing for yourself — it’s about the individual,” said Kael Shah ’26, who will play in both competitions at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships this weekend. “In college tennis, you’re playing for a team, and the energy you bring to the court is important to the team’s success.”
The Big Red play a heavy metal brand of tennis — hard-driving and loud. Schilling has players shouting encouragement to teammates on match days.
Ethan Green ’26, who will partner with Shah in the NCAA doubles competition, said the emphasis on team building in a sport not known for it was an adjustment. But he likes the camaraderie Schilling has created. Jacob Patterson ’26, who will compete in the NCAA singles competition, also touts the advantages.
“I didn’t realize as much as I do now how much the support of my teammates can help me in a close match,” Patterson said. “That support can really make a difference.”
A high bar
Schilling is familiar with the art of coachspeak, but he doesn’t dabble in it.
So when asked to define team success, given last season’s achievements and the returning players on the roster, Schilling is not going to bore listeners with talk of “the process” or “doing the right things.”
“Success to me is winning the national championship,” he said. “I’m unapologetic about that and, if we don’t do that over the next two years — no matter what school records we set or new heights we reach — it will be a little disappointing for me.”
The Big Red lost in the 2024 NCAA team quarterfinals to eventual national champion University of Chicago. Patterson and Shah lost to the eventual national champion in singles competition. It was the same for Shah and Green in doubles action.
Coming so close to glory produced a mixture of pride and pain. Now, it’s about raising expectations to take the next step.
It’s said within sporting circles that good is the enemy of great. Schilling said the Big Red cannot be satisfied with the team’s historic 2024 run.
Denison will be led by its three outstanding juniors: Shah, Patterson, and Green. The program also welcomes back talented Andreas Chapides ’26, who missed all last season with a knee injury.
“It’s going to depend on these three juniors and Chappy to set the tone,” the coach said. “You can continue to progress and gain confidence, or you can spend the year patting yourself on the back. We’re going to talk a lot about maturity this year.”
Schilling says there’s no “secret sauce” in building a national title contender. He believes, however, that players learn the most when someone’s keeping score and something’s riding on the outcome.
“When I came here, we set the bar very high,” Schilling said. “Our goal is to become one of the best teams in the country and compete for national championships. We still have work to do.”
