Cristian Popa
Cristian Popa
  • Title:
    International Student-Athlete Support Coordinator / Head Tennis Coach
  • Phone:
    (617) 745-3634
  • Email:
    cristian.popa@enc.edu

Bio

About Coach Popa…

Years at ENC: 17 (2003-Present)
Alma Mater: Eastern Nazarene
Playing Experience: Played tennis at ENC and played tennis growing up in Romania
Record: 218-256 (Combined) – 167-144 (Men) & 51-112 (Women)


More About Coach Popa…

  • Serves as head coach of the ENC men’s and women's tennis teams.
  • Named 13th head men’s tennis coach in program history in 2003.
  • Coached women’s tennis program from 2007 to 2017 and returned as head coach in 2018.
  • Serves on NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Northeast Regional Advisory Committee.
  • Led ENC women's tennis team to its first-ever GNAC Tournament title in 2019 and program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2020.
  • Guided ENC men's tennis to first-ever GNAC Tournament Championship, NCAA Tournament appearance, and NCAA Tournament victory in 2019.
  • Collected his 200th career coaching victory April 2, 2019.
  • Guided ENC women's tennis team to the GNAC Tournament semifinals in 2018.
  • Has guided the men’s tennis team to nine Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournaments, including seven-straight trips from 2011 to 2017.
  • Led the ENC men’s tennis team to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018.
  • Has coached a total of 48 All-Conference honorees, six women and 42 men.
  • Under his tutelage, three individuals have been named the Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year – most recently, Alex Partyka in 2017 and 2018.
  • Popa’s squad has also boasted back-to-back CCC Rookies of the Year with Alex Partyka in 2016 and Henry Siercke in 2017.
  • In his tenure with the team, three student-athletes have earned the CCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Andres Biondi (2017), Austin Steelman (2013), and Tyler Restrick (2010).
  • Popa was voted the Commonwealth Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2018, 2017, 2012, and 2006.
  • Popa graduated from Eastern Nazarene College with a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology and Psychology.
  • He is an active member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and is a Certified US Professional Tennis Association Coach.
  • Popa is an avid long-distance runner, having completed numerous marathons and ultra-marathons.
  • Served as ENC head cross country coach from 2017-18.
  • Originally from Bucharest, Romania.
  • Married to Andrea Popa and has two daughters.