For the 2021-2022 season, Muhlenberg tennis has an entirely different duo at the helm. After three years under the sole leadership of Head Coach Jason Toedter, the Mules are now headed by Head Coach David DeLasCasas Kurvink and Assistant Coach Amadou Diop.
While DeLasCasas Kurvink arrived at Muhlenberg following a stellar coaching career at DeSales University, leading the program to several playoff appearances, Diop joined him with over 40 years worth of experience to give to Muhlenberg’s tennis program.
Since moving to Allentown from Senegal in January 1996, Diop has been an integral part of the community. As a certified coach, Diop has not only coached his daughter Aida since she was four years old, but he has also mentored youths all across the Lehigh Valley.
Teaching workshops specializing in children ages 10 and under, and being certified by the Professional Tennis Registry to coach children from ages 11-14, Diop created AMCO Tennis in June 2008 with the purpose of increasing the appreciation for tennis throughout the Valley.
Although AMCO Tennis is based in and around the Allentown community, Diop also started a program back in Senegal where children can learn to play tennis and expand their love for the game. Held at a tennis facility in the city of Saint-Louis, Diop provides racquets, uniforms and enough tennis balls for all of his students.
Still, when he is not attending to AMCO Tennis or his Senegal program, Diop serves on the coaching staff for the Kids Play Tennis programs at Oakmont Tennis Club and Bethlehem Community Park and for the Allentown Tennis Program at Lower Macungie and Macungie parks.
Despite all of the work Diop does away from Muhlenberg, he is forever tied to the campus. Diop received an honorary doctorate from the College in 2003. Diop also holds a Ph.D. in crop science from Oregon State University. “Muhlenberg is my second college after Oregon State University,” Diop said.
However, Diop’s relationship with Muhlenberg goes back further, to the time when he served as The Rodale Institute’s international program director. “My connection with Muhlenberg College started in 1997 after meeting with [Professor] Rich Niesenbaum who participated in our international programs at The Rodale Institute,” said Diop.
In addition to working with Niesenbaum, who was instrumental in nominating him for the honorary doctoral degree, Diop has previously worked at Muhlenberg in the biology and French departments as a visiting lecturer and most recently has taught Wolof to exchange students in Senegal with the Department of Languages, Literatures and Culture.
Not only is Diop proficient in Wolof, but he is fluent in four other languages: English, Spanish, French and Russian.
With all of this incredible experience and personal history with Muhlenberg, Diop accepted the assistant coaching position with open arms. “On top of all this, my lovely wife Awa made me popular at the College as well. I am always introduced as ‘Awa’s Husband’ because she is the favorite Sodexo employee of many students. So, I was excited when Head Coach David [DeLasCasas Kurvink] invited me to join the coaching staff,” Diop said.
Diop’s excitement to help Muhlenberg tennis is apparent, and with that, he hopes to bring all of his experiences together and impart valuable lessons on the men’s and women’s teams. “My experiences from four college campuses in four continents: Africa, Europe, Asia and America: one year of college in Senegal, six years of college in Russia, two years of college in The Philippines, and four years [at] Oregon State University. I played handball in college in Russia, and soccer in Senegal. Therefore, I hope to bring some diversity, hard work and adaptation to new environments.”
In fact, Diop’s presence is starting to be felt by members of the team. “From the start of the semester, Coach Diop has brought a great amount of positive energy to the team pushing us to reach our goals. For example, [at] the first meeting he highlighted the importance of setting ambitious goals and then helped us in reaching them,” said Benedict Kohler ‘23.
“He has taught us strategies on how to stay calm in difficult situations and how to regroup after losing important points,” said Maria Stere ‘22.
Not only was the Muhlenberg tennis team able to get to know and learn from Diop over the short fall season, but without him, the Mules would not have been able to compete. When DeLasCasas Kurvink was recently isolated due to contracting COVID-19, it was up to Diop to step into the interim head coach position and lead the men and women.
For him, this was both a humbling and challenging experience. “Apart from assisting my daughter’s coaches in high school and college, I did not have NCAA tennis experience. This was a big test when Head Coach David [DeLasCasas Kurvink] was put in quarantine. I am happy that I was able to step in and take the women’s team to victories in both of their away games of the fall season.”
Diop also acknowledged the Mules and their adjustment to the circumstances. “Players of both teams were very supportive and understanding of the situation. This made my job easy because it was a big challenge to step in for an excellent head coach,” said Diop.
Taking this opportunity in stride and leading the women’s team to an undefeated fall, with matches against Cedar Crest College and the Marywood University Pacers, they could not have succeeded without Diop. “Coach Diop stepped in when we needed him most because without him we couldn’t have practiced and won those matches. He was always on the court supporting us and giving us confidence on the court,” said Stere.
Kohler shared the same sentiment and was appreciative of Diop’s dedication during DeLasCasas’ time away from the team. “Diop took all of the practices as well as mentored us through our first match this season. Without him, we probably would not have been able to have competed in this match,” he said.
Besides the excitement of taking over as head coach on such short notice, Diop has had an altogether enjoyable time teaching and seeing the Mules thrive. As the Mules look ahead towards the spring, Diop has high hopes.
“Players’ motivation and willingness to make the difference gives me hope for a very successful upcoming spring season… [The] players’ attitude and work ethics give me the enjoyment to look forward to coming to practice every day,” said Diop.
