Since joining Hunter College in 2019 as Assistant Coach for the men's and women's tennis teams, Ron Ariel has played an integral role in one of the most successful periods in program history. During his tenure, Hunter has captured four CUNYAC Championships, with the women's team advancing to the CUNYAC Championship every season and the men's team reaching the championship match in five of the past six seasons.
Prior to joining Hunter, Ariel served as a practice hitter for the NCAA Division I St. Francis College women's tennis team and spent eight years as a volunteer assistant coach at Vaughn College. Those experiences helped shape his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes competitive excellence, player development, and fostering a team-first culture. Ariel is committed to developing well-rounded student-athletes by emphasizing accountability, resilience, sportsmanship, and academic success alongside competitive achievement.
An active competitor himself, Ariel continues to play high-level tennis throughout the New York metropolitan area at premier facilities including the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, Sutton East Tennis Club, Mill River Club, and Jericho Tennis Center. He is also a member of the competitive doubles group known as the Trojans. In 2024, he won the Sagaponack Invitational, earning the title with a championship victory over Julio Cesar and demonstrating his continued commitment to the sport as both a coach and a competitor.
Outside of coaching, Ariel owns and operates a marketing-distribution, and logistics company. A lifelong student of the game, he has attended all four Grand Slam tournaments and is working toward attending every ATP Masters 1000 event. His passion for tennis continues to shape his approach to mentoring Hunter's student-athletes both on and off the court.
