Hosts: Tennis

Just past Fordham's McGinley Center and the Bahoshy Softball Complex stands the Hawthorn/Rooney Tennis Courts, which plays host to Fordham tennis year round.

The courts, which were originally made of clay have been re-made on multiple ocassions, with its current re-configuration set in 1999 with three lower courts adjacent to the Fordham Tennis House and three upper courts, running next to Murphy Field.

The courts, which were most recently resurfaced in 2010, are named after Fordham's two hall of fame tennis coaches, Bob Hawthorn and John Rooney.

Both graduates of Fordham, Hawthorn and Rooney brought the men's and women's tennis team to great heights during their tenures, winning several conference championships.  An outstanding squash and tennis player during his school years, Hawthorn served as the tennis coach for over 50 years at Fordham, receiving the athletic department's Coach of the Year Award on three occasions.  In 2006, Hawthorn was honored with his induction into the College Squash Association Hall of Fame and the CSA honored him further by creating a Hawthorn Championship Division.

Rooney began his coaching tenure with boy's tennis team at Fordham Prep in 1949. Rooney's greatest claim to fame was during his time as the University's women's tennis team coach in 1972. He coached them to an unbelievable 280-34-2 record including five MAAC championships and the 1990 Patriot League title. Included in the team's undefeated dream season (11-0) was the continuation of a winning streak that dates back to the 1989 season and now ranks as one of the longest in school history at 26 straight.

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