Chris Fernandez enters his Second year as Chatham's Head Women's and Men's Squash Coach in 2022-23.
Fernandez joins the Cougars after three years with the Squash teams at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. Dickinson’s program began in 2014, and Fernandez was instrumental in developing, growing, and improving the program on all fronts. When hired at Dickinson, Fernandez was the youngest head coach in the history of the College Squash Association (CSA).
Prior to Dickinson, Fernandez served as the head coach of the women’s club team at Fordham University in New York. While living in New York City, he also served as the Director of CitySquash for several years, assuming responsibility for the mentoring of over 120 youth athletes through squash. During that time, Fernandez was also active as the head squash pro at the Boathouse Field Club, recruiting members and providing private lessons and clinics for players of all ages. In the summer of 2013, Fernandez landed an internship with U.S. Squash in their media department. Additionally, he spent his summers with Racquet Up Detroit, an educational and instructional program to increase interest in playing squash.
Fernandez’ squash experience spans from his introduction to the sport in middle school, after which he earned a scholarship to the prestigious Canterbury School in Connecticut and set the all-time win record at 64 wins and only 6 losses, winning two New England championships in the process.
His squash skill caught the attention of Saint Lawrence University’s coaching staff, to whom Fernandez committed for his collegiate career and would later serve as a team captain. While playing for the Saints, Fernandez was a four-year starter, helping them to three top-10 national rankings and finishing with a #2 ranking. Fernandez also walked onto the Saints’ baseball team, leading the team in batting average, extra-base hits, and hits in his senior season. As an accomplished dual-sport athlete at Saint Lawrence, Fernandez graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Performing Communication Arts degree and a minor in Sports Studies. After college, Fernandez went on to represent the Dominican Republic as the #1 player for two Pan American Squash Championships.
Fernandez holds ample leadership experience to supplement his squash expertise. Not only is he currently a board member for Squashwise (urban program in Baltimore). He has served on the Squash and Education Alliance Committee and holds a Level 1 Coaching Certification as well as a Strength and Conditioning Certification. Additionally, he has served as a faculty leader for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a Title IX Coordinator Committee member, a CSA Diversity and Inclusion Committee member, and a Dickinson College Athletics Social Justice Committee member.
“I am grateful and humbled to have such a great opportunity ahead of me in joining the Chatham University community,” said Fernandez. “It is a very exciting time to be a member of this community as Squash is still very new here and with the leadership of President Finegold and Leonard there are a lot of new opportunities ahead of us to conquer the college squash circuit, while also impacting the local Pittsburgh Squash community. It is an honor to join a program that not only has grown and had success rather quickly on the men's side, but also to be in a position with the current student-athletes to start a Varsity Women's team and continue success for years to come. I am looking forward to continuing the growth of this squash program and hopefully helping reach new heights. Go Cougars!”
Chatham will begin its fifth season in 2022-23 under Fernandez’ leadership. The Cougars, currently ranked 14th in the country, were the 2019-20 and 2021-22 recipients of the Barnaby Award, given to the most improved team in the United States. In their second season as a program, they improved from a #61 ranking to #28 nationally, and improved on that ranking by finishing 14th in the nation, their highest ranking nationally to date.
