ELON, N.C. – The program's foundation was laid, built and established by Michael Leonard. After his retirement last spring, the Elon University men's tennis team's leadership underwent a changing of the guard for the first time in two decades.
 
Though he knows it will not be an easy task to secede the winningest coach in program history, Maciek Sykut said he feels honored and lucky to have received the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Phoenix.
 
"It's no small feat to back up what coach Leonard has done over his 20-year career here," Sykut said.
 
"It was a tremendous honor to get the phone call from Elon, and for them to seek me out as a head coach for the men's tennis program here with the rich history that it has, and just a tremendous opportunity for myself to apply what I've learned along the way," Sykut added.
 
Despite Leonard's retirement, none of Elon's roster transferred or left the program last offseason. Although three veteran players graduated last spring, all five student-athletes that could possibly return did. Additionally, the Phoenix added some youth by bringing in three freshmen.
 
While Sykut was pleased to bring back key players that led Elon to a 16-8 season that culminated with an appearance in the CAA Championship final, Sykut said that Leonard and the culture of Elon played more of a role than he ever could have in every Phoenix player electing to come back.
 
"I don't know that I deserve any credit for that," Sykut said of his cast of returners. "I think coach Leonard did a great job, and I'm sure these kids had a really good experience with him. It also reflects on the university. I think the student and the student-athlete experience here at Elon, they really get a great four-year experience. It's a very complete experience."
 
Junior Oskar Antinheimo said it was a simple decision to return for another season in the maroon and gold, despite Leonard's departure.
 
"I don't think [leaving] really crossed my mind," Antinheimo said. "I think we have a great foundation here. We had a great group of guys coming back and I think it's a great program, great school, and I knew that we were going to get someone good. Coach Maciek has been very good, I'm very happy to play under him."
 
In less than ten months coaching the Phoenix, Sykut has found that his team's tight-knit camaraderie – which he said he believes comes by way of having "like-minded individuals in the same room" – has made his job coaching much easier.
 
"We have a great group of players that have a great relationship, and in the locker room we have a great team culture built in, which goes a really long way," Sykut said. "It makes the work much easier day in and day out."
 
"We have a great group of kids that have been very receptive to working hard and trying to strive for more," Sykut added.
 
Sykut brings a wealth of experience to the table. While his most recent stop was as the associate head coach of Duke – where he helped lead the Blue Devils to 71 wins and four NCAA tournament appearances in as many seasons – Sykut also was a key piece on staff at other Power Four programs such as Arizona and NC State.
 
In addition to his coaching positions at two Atlantic Coast Conference institutions, Sykut has quite the resume from his playing days at Florida State, another ACC school. Despite graduating in 2009, the former All-ACC selection still ranks second and fifth all-time in singles and doubles match wins, respectively, in Seminole history.
 
On top of Sykut's impressive collegiate days, he also had a very successful professional playing career, where he reached a No. 578 ranking in singles and No. 145 in doubles on the ATP Tour, and even won 22 matches against ATP top-100 opponents.
 
While Sykut's coaching and playing experience speaks for itself, he said although he still has a lot to learn, he feels prepared for the challenges that lie ahead of him as head coach of the Phoenix, particularly because of the many stops throughout his career.
 
"I've learned a tremendous amount each year," Sykut said. "You look back and you think you know a lot, and then you realize how much more you've added to your bank of knowledge and then try to apply that each year moving forward."
 
"I've learned from great coaches that have been very successful. Each time, I was able to look back and gain an extra page from their playbook, learn something new to become more complete and that process never stops," Sykut added.
 
Antinheimo said that since Sykut has taken over, he has enjoyed the stylistic approach that his new head coach has. While Antinheimo said that Sykut might focus more on "technical nuances" than Leonard, Antinheimo believes that Sykut's key principals as a head coach mirror Leonard's.
 
"For both, it's all about the toughness and putting the work in which I really like," Antinheimo said. "I like to do that. I like both coaches. I think it's been a good transition so far."
 
Sykut said that with his "focus being on the work," it has positioned his team well to consistently make strides over the course of the last several months.

"We're building the habits required to do what we need to be victorious in the end," Sykut said.
 
Within the first few practices as head coach, Sykut said he was very upfront that every day would not be easy on his players, and that many days would be difficult. While some athletes at other programs might have shied away from somewhat daunting messaging such as that, Sykut has been impressed with how his eight-man roster has responded.

"We were pretty clear in the beginning that we're prepared to push the boundaries and challenge the student-athletes to grow on the court and off the court, and they certainly were receptive and eager for that challenge, and they've responded to it," Sykut said.
 
"We have a good group that's ready to learn, willing to learn, and now it's applying everything that we've worked on to this point," Sykut added.

Sykut explained that because his players have believed in what he preaches, it has made the overall experience for both parties very smooth so far.
 
"I made a promise that I would work daily to help these guys improve not just on the court, but in every direction that I can help them in," Sykut said. "If you have like-minded individuals, and they buy into the vision, and they're willing to go along for the ride, it really makes the work easy."
 
Although Elon's season was delayed until the start of February, Antinheimo said that with the additional time to prepare in January in lieu of match-play, the Phoenix is well-prepared physically for its 2025 spring campaign.
 
"We really utilized that four-week break very well," Antinheimo said. "We did a lot of conditioning and lifting. Coaches really put us to work hard. I think it's going to pay off later."
 
"Everyone is saying that they feel the most fit they've ever been, I feel very good on the court as well," Antinheimo added.
 
A key addition to Sykut's staff in the offseason was assistant coach Mitch Stewart – a former assistant for the University of Denver men's tennis team – who regularly finds ways to push the student-athletes for the better.
 
"It's been very good for everyone to challenge themselves a little bit, not only physically, but also mentally," Antinheimo said of Stewart. "It's been tough sometimes. After practice, we think it's over, but then coach Mitch [will] say, 'Now we're going to do 30 minutes of conditioning.'"
 
"He always says, 'You're going to thank me later,'" Antinheimo recalled of Stewart. "It's going to pay off for sure, later in the season."
 
Sykut was effusive in his praise for Stewart joining the program and said that he will be invaluable to the Phoenix going forward.
 
"He is a tremendous asset to this program and to our student-athletes, and I'm really excited that he moved across the country to join our staff, and I certainly could not do it without him," Sykut said of Stewart.
 
Antinheimo echoed what Stewart preaches and said that Elon's small roster size means making good decisions off the court, even when it is difficult.
 
"It just takes a lot of work. Everyone [should] put 1% more on the court, also off the court, take care of the body, because we only have eight guys on the roster right now," Antinheimo said. "It's a pretty small team, so I feel like everyone needs to do their best to stay healthy and just put the extra effort in."
 
"All the choices you make off the court matter. It's not only the choices you make off the court. If you're going to practice harder, you need to eat well and sleep well. That's what me and Veljko [Krstic] have been trying to [tell] the younger guys," Antinheimo added.
 
Antinheimo was selected as the team captain, largely because he brings "experience which you can't buy," according to Sykut. Although he said the role is a nice recognition from the coaches, Antinheimo explained since there is leadership present throughout the entire roster, it makes the captain position much less of a burden on him.
 
"Even [though] I was selected as a captain, I feel like everyone brings leadership in different ways," Antinheimo said. "Especially if someone is having a bad day, it's the other person's responsibility to bring the other people up. I think that makes the best teams as well, holding other people accountable. If I'm not, or if someone else is not giving 100%, someone else can tell them me or them too."
 
"I still have a lot to learn as a captain. I think for me, it's more like leading as an example, show early to practice, do the extra work and just try to show that to the other guys, to just to put the 100% in every day," Antinheimo added.
 
Sykut explained that the team-wide belief in one another will allow for the Phoenix to stay composed, even when his players face adversity.
 
"I know that when the players look up and down the line when they're playing their matches, they believe and they trust in those individuals," Sykut said.
 
Sykut has learned a lot with the many high-level teams he has worked with. He said that one of the most important lessons he has come away with from his coaching stops is "investing in genuine relationships."
 
"Having those genuine relationships, showing that you care and communicating effectively really goes a long way," Sykut said. "As long as your players know that it's coming from a good place and that you have their best interest, I think that really goes a long way."
 
During its fall season, Elon made a run to the finals of the Liberty Dual Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia. Despite the success the Phoenix had in the event, Antinheimo said one of the best parts about the road trip was the time that he and his teammates spent with each other at an Airbnb.
 
"It was very nice to just stay with the team," Antinheimo said. "Usually we stay in a hotel, so it was nice that everyone stayed in the same house. And I think it was a good trip for team bonding and spending a lot of time there together."
 
"I think it makes the communication better and helps with the tennis piece as well," Antinheimo added.
 
While Sykut might be new to Elon, returning veterans like Antinheimo and Krstic are not. The two juniors have both been with the Phoenix for the emotional endings to back-to-back postseasons, which both have come by way of losses to UNC Wilmington in the CAA Championship finals.
 
"Last two years, it's been tough," Antinheimo said. "We got pretty close. [Losing] twice in the final [the] last two years. And I think that's on the top of our mind, especially with me and Veljko, who have been there."
 
With the CAA tournament scheduled to be hosted by Elon for the first time since the 2022 season – which means that none of Elon's roster has experienced hosting the conference championship – Antinheimo said that it would be "really special" if the Phoenix is able to raise the championship trophy on the courts of the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
 
"We really want to do it, especially this year when we have the conference tournament at home," Antinheimo said.
 
"I've heard great memories from the guys who were on the team my first years. We had the tournament the year before I came and they said it was very good. A lot of people watching, and I feel like that will be a big advantage for us," Antinheimo added.
 
Sykut echoed Antinheimo's excitement about playing host to the CAA tournament. Although he has not had the chance to coach a match at the JPTC yet, he said that he is very thrilled about the opportunity to compete for a conference championship at home.
 
"I haven't experienced it firsthand yet, but I can tell you firsthand, I'm really excited," Sykut said.

"It's obviously a fantastic opportunity to be able to play on our own courts, and we look to take advantage of that," Sykut added.
 
While Elon has opened its spring season with an 0-4 record to begin, Antinheimo is confident that the Phoenix will be able to right the ship.
 
"We're getting closer for sure, and I think everyone just needs to stay positive," Antinheimo said. "And I think we're on the right track for sure."
 
Elon is scheduled to play its first true home match of the season at the JPTC against East Tennessee State (1-3) on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW: 

HOME SWEET HOME
The Phoenix will play host to the CAA Championship for the first time since the 2022 season. The tournament is scheduled for April 25-27 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. No player or coach on Elon's current roster has had the chance to compete for the CAA title on their home court, until this season. 

FAMILIAR FACES PLAY MENTOR TO NEW BLOOD
Elon returns all five players possible from last season's team, including two juniors in Oskar Antinheimo and Veljko Krstic, a lone senior in Juan Sengariz and a duo of sophomores in Alonso Roca and Jack Curtis. The upperclassmen were welcomed by three new additions in true freshmen Charles Pilet and Rafael Ymer, in addition to redshirt freshman Luke Forester. 

BIG O IN THE CLUTCH
Antinheimo returned for his junior season. He held a 29-12 singles record and a 25-16 doubles mark entering the spring season. The Finland native played hero in several matches for the Phoenix last year. One came when he saved match point against Campbell in the CAA semifinals to advance to the championship, and another came in a comeback win when he saved match point to seal the win over Gardner-Webb at the JPTC.
 

---

'Rising Phoenix' is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Chase Strawser at cstrawser@elon.edu.

---