Saratoga Tennis Coach Rich Johns Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Intercollegiate Tennis Association

Fifty-four years after graduating from SUNY Potsdam, Rich Johns is recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as a Legacy All-American for his achievements on and off the court. Johns coached both the Saratoga boys’ and girls’ tennis programs for a combined 38 years before retiring in 2010. 

During his tenure as head coach, Johns led the Girl’s Varsity program to 17 league titles, nine section two team titles, and a record 85 game win streak for Class AA. 

A Legacy All-American adds to his long list of accolades. Johns is the recipient of the highest honors given to alumnus from SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Adirondack, the Minerva Award (1997) and the Trailblazer Society (2018) respectively. Also, the USTA National Starfish Award (2009), given in recognition of his “no-cut” tennis program, Racquet Sports Industry as their National High School Coach of the Year (2010), and the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation Award (2010) for his distinguished-exceptional leadership and commitment to education and community service. 

As a freshman at SUNY Adirondack in 1968 (Named Adirondack Community College in his day), Johns was the Northeast Collegiate College Singles Champion, secured the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 3 Championship, and got to the third round of the NJCAA National Championship. 

He transferred to SUNY Potsdam after one year at SUNY Adirondack, and his on-court success followed. 

Johns was runner-up at the State University of New York Athletic Association (SUNYAC) Conference Tennis Title in 1971. He captured the SUNYAC Singles Championship in his final year of college, the first and only Tennis player from SUNY Potsdam to achieve a State Championship. 

Johns never lost a conference match in his collegiate career.

Despite earning a spot in the NCAA Tennis Championships in 1972, fiscal irresponsibility and a subsequent budget freeze from Governor Rockefeller prevented him from traveling to California for the competition. 

Johns spends his days in retirement spreading his message, Act with Respect Always, a pay it forward movement. He travels around the region preaching 8 core character traits: Responsibility, honesty and fairness, civility, self-discipline, no excuses, courage, and respect.