The Monarchists β€’ ODU Tennis

The coaches behind two of the most consistently excellent programs in ODU athletics sit down together for the first time on the Monarchists Podcast

If you follow ODU athletics and haven't been paying attention to tennis, this episode is your wake-up call. ODU Women's Tennis head coach Dom Manilla and ODU Men's Tennis head coach Dominik Mueller joined us together for a conversation that covers what it actually takes to build two championship programs under the same roof, how they're navigating the most chaotic era in college athletics history, and why ODU tennis belongs in the same conversation as any program in the country. It's candid, it's fun, and it's long overdue.

Here's a taste of what's in the full interview:

Two Programs, Two Different Philosophies, One Building

You'd assume two programs winning at this level, sharing a facility, would be running from the same playbook. They're not, and that's the whole point. Mueller and Manilla have different recruiting philosophies, different takes on NIL, and different scheduling strategies; yet they're in each other's offices nearly every day. They'll tell you straight up that the difference in their approaches is a feature, not a bug, and they explain exactly why it gives both programs an edge that's hard to replicate.

Winning One Is Hard. Keeping It Going Is a Horror Movie.

Dom Manilla does not sugarcoat it: the thought of not winning a conference championship is, in his words, straight out of a horror movie. He talks openly about the pressure that comes with sustained success, why that pressure never shrinks no matter how many banners go up, and why he thinks that's exactly the mindset an athletic director should want from a coach. It's one of the most honest stretches of the episode, and it makes you appreciate what these two have built a whole lot more.

"Every year I feel the pressure as if it's starting all over. No matter who you got, the amount of talent you got, you feel it big time. You wanna deliver for Monarch Nation, and it's so important to do that."

Dom Manilla β€’ Head Coach, ODU Women's Tennis

Programs Are Getting Cut Everywhere. Here's What Keeps ODU Off That List.

Twenty-two NCAA programs were eliminated in the 2025-26 season alone, including nine at the Division I level. Gardner-Webb's tennis program got cut after winning their conference and making the NCAA Tournament; let that sink in. Mueller and Manilla address it head-on: the financial pressure every mid-major program faces, what it actually takes to make yourself indispensable to an athletic department, and why Manilla says every dollar he raises is a dollar his AD doesn't have to spend. This part of the conversation is worth your full attention.

"Even success doesn't save you. We really have to do a good job staying involved with the community, and make sure everyone understands this is still bigger than money."

Dominik Mueller β€’ Head Coach, ODU Men's Tennis

Yuliia, Davis Cup, and a Blooper Reel That Made the Rounds

Both coaches get their brag time in, and they've earned it. Mueller currently has four former Monarchs competing professionally, including two representing their countries in Davis Cup this week. Manilla talks about Yuliia beating Rybakina at the French Open and what that kind of moment does for recruiting pitches on both sides of the building. He also tells the story of a Younes Lalami moment that made it onto the pro tour blooper circuit; trust us, it is exactly as good as it sounds.

Pickleball, Agassi, Jack Sock, and the McEnroe Question

Pickleball is now a legitimate revenue stream at Fowlkes-Stevens, and both coaches have takes on where it fits alongside tennis: some expected, some not. They debate which former pro making the switch to pickleball surprises them most, and Mueller's Jack Sock answer comes with a reason you genuinely will not see coming. Then there's the McEnroe angle: Manilla worked for John McEnroe's academy, so the question of where Mac stands on the pickleball wave had to be asked.

How to Be a Good Tennis Fan (Aaron Has Been Warned by Officials. Multiple Times.)

If you've ever stood at a tennis match and wondered when exactly you're allowed to lose your mind, Manilla lays it all out in the most entertaining way possible. He also confirms that Aaron has been approached by officials at ODU tennis matches on more than one occasion, and makes it very clear he has zero problem with that. His closing pitch to anyone thinking about coming out for the first time this season is genuinely one of the best arguments for ODU tennis you'll hear from anyone; don't skip it.

Watch the Full Episode Above

There's plenty more in the full conversation: the new associate head coach hire on the women's side, Mueller's take on why the transfer portal has actually helped his freshman recruiting, Manilla's method for tracking down recruits by following the chain of who beats who, the best pro players each coach has seen in person, and a home schedule loaded with big-name programs. ODU Women's Tennis opens January 30th hosting Florida State. Come find out why Manilla says if you show up to one match, you'll be back for more. Hit play.

The Monarchists β€’ ODU Athletics Coverage