From pursuing a business degree in college to leading a university tennis team to a winning record, Chapel Hill High School alumnus Garcian D’Cruz has taken an unexpected but successful path to his career—starting as an assistant coach at his alma mater and rising to head coach at Tusculum University in Tennessee.
D’Cruz’s love for tennis began when he was just six years old. His father, originally from India, was an avid table tennis player and introduced D’Cruz to racquet sports at a young age. That early exposure laid the foundation for a lifelong passion.
A 2013 graduate of Chapel Hill High School, D’Cruz played tennis all four years. His first two seasons were under coach Nick Walker, and his last two were under current coach Neil Alderman.
“Both of my high school coaches were Hall of Fame coaches, so it was exciting to play for them,” D’Cruz said.
After high school, D’Cruz attended Elon University, where he pursued a degree in business with aspirations of working in sales or administration. Although Elon had a nationally ranked tennis program, he chose to play club tennis instead. Despite his business focus, he remained drawn to the sports world.
“I wanted to stick with the sports industry if I could, but I didn’t realize that being a college coach was even an option for me,” D’Cruz said.
Following graduation, D’Cruz worked as a tennis country club director, combining his business skills with his love for tennis. However, he soon realized something was missing.
“I loved tennis—not just the business around it, but also the competitive side of it,” D’Cruz said. “That’s what led me to college coaching.”
His coaching journey began in 2018 when he returned to Chapel Hill High School, helping to lead the Tigers to an impressive 15-1 record in his first season as assistant coach. During his tenure, he coached and mentored then-freshman Dennis Perumov, who would go on to become a state champion and a Chapel Hill tennis legend.
After two years at Chapel Hill High School, D’Cruz moved on to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in Mooresboro, North Carolina, where he led the women’s team to a conference championship and was named the women’s conference coach of the year. The following year, he earned the same honor for the men’s team.
D’Cruz continued his coaching ascent at Lake Norman Charter High School, where he guided the men’s team to back-to-back conference championships. His consistent success at the high school level led to an opportunity to return to Elon University as an assistant coach in 2023.
In his first season back at Elon, D’Cruz helped the team achieve a 16-8 record and a conference championship appearance. After just one year on a Division I coaching staff, he became the head coach at Tusculum University, a Division II school in Tennessee.
True to form, D’Cruz found success immediately, leading the Pioneers to a 16-7 record in his first year. His colleagues have quickly taken notice of his work ethic and leadership.
“He jumped right in and has not stopped working to create a top-notch program since he was hired,” Jenna Biggins, Tusculum’s assistant athletic director of internal operations, said.
Vice President of Athletics Josh Ealy echoed that sentiment: “Garcian is a passionate leader who pours into our student-athletes on and off the court. He develops well-rounded men and women who will leave Tusculum ready to make positive impacts in their communities.”
According to D’Cruz, the key to his coaching success boils down to one word: attitude.
When recruiting players, attitude is the trait he values most. “It’s a brutal sport, and if you’re not willing to grind for your teammates and fight, then it’s not going to be a good experience for you,” he said.
D’Cruz emphasizes a tailored approach to player development, combining film review, physical therapy and individualized practice plans.
“Each player works on specific areas they need to improve, often paired with a partner who has similar needs,” D’Cruz said. “That way, we’re refining each player’s skills rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.”
While refining skills and winning are common themes in D’Cruz’s coaching, refining character and building attitude are just as important, all of which contribute to his success.
