LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College Director of Athletics Jason Fein is pleased to share a new look to the Bates College tennis coaching staff as Deepak Sharma has joined the garnet and white as the head coach of the women's program, while Paul Gastonguay '89 transitions to solely the men's head coach.

"We are thrilled to welcome Deepak Sharma as Bates College's head women's tennis coach," Fein said. "Deepak brings a wealth of experience in program management, player development, and strategic planning. His remarkable achievements, such as leading his teams to academic and competitive excellence, make him an ideal fit for Bates. Deepak's commitment to fostering both athletic prowess and academic success aligns perfectly with our values, and we are confident that his leadership will drive our women's tennis program to new heights"

Sharma joins the Bobcats after serving as assistant men's tennis coach (2022-23), and then Director of Tennis (2023-24) at Division I Marist College. Sharma managed all aspects of the Marist men's and women's tennis programs, including recruitment, coaching, staff hiring, scheduling, budgeting, and practice management.

"I am energized to collaborate with Deepak to elevate our men's and women's tennis teams to new heights," added Gastonguay. "Deepak's passion to develop and mentor our student-athletes on and off the court will inspire them to be their best and to compete for NESCAC championships."

Sharma had the privilege to coach the 2024 MAAC Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year (Caterina Assi), as well as six men's All-MAAC selections during his tenure with the Red Foxes. His men's squad doubled its win total from the previous season and qualified for the #3 seed in the postseason conference tournament.

Also performing in the classroom, the Red Foxes women's squad achieved the highest grade-point average among all women's athletic programs at Marist. The men's team ranked second overall.

Prior to his tenure at Marist, Sharma served as interim head coach at Fordham University (2022) and head coach at Trinity School (2018-23), a college preparatory school in New York City. 

Sharma graduated from the University of Richmond in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Sport Administration, where he earned a spot as captain of the tennis team his senior year.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Garry W. Jenkins, Jason Fein, and Coach Gastonguay for their efforts in creating this role, as well as to the search committee for their shared enthusiasm and support," Sharma said. " From the moment I stepped onto campus, I was struck by the strong sense of community. The combination of Bates' esteemed academic reputation and its world-class facilities make this an exciting opportunity for me to dedicate myself to leading the women's tennis team."

Gastonguay, one of the most respected coaches in college tennis, originally became the head men's tennis coach in 1996-97 before taking over both programs prior to the 2001-02 campaign. Born and raised in Lewiston, Gastonguay graduated from Bates in 1989 as the winningest tennis player in Bates College history, amassing a combined record of 149-41 in his four-year playing career.

"I am so grateful for this opportunity to elevate the competitiveness of the men's and women's tennis programs, while keeping the teams closely connected through our community outreach projects and team-building," Gastonguay said. "Each team will now be able to do what is best for them to prepare, compete, and recover throughout the season, without compromise. The ability to move independently throughout their season will help our student-athletes succeed on and off the court. I am so happy for our athletes who work so hard to compete in the NESCAC, which is arguably the strongest tennis conference in Division III." 

Twice honored as the NESCAC Coach of the Year, Gastonguay has led the men's team to one of the longest periods of sustained excellence of any sport in school history. The Bobcats qualified for the NCAA Championships for seven straight years beginning in 2000. 

"As a Bates College graduate and one of the most esteemed coaches in college tennis, Paul's contributions to both our men's and women's programs have been nothing short of extraordinary," Fein said. "His leadership has consistently propelled our teams to the forefront of Division III tennis, and his commitment to excellence is reflected in his remarkable achievements, from nurturing All-Americans to guiding our teams to national prominence. We are thrilled to see Paul be able to focus on one program and we are confident that his vision and passion will continue to elevate our men's tennis program and inspire future generations of Bobcats."

Gastonguay competed professionally in International Tennis Federation Satellite, Challenger and ATP Tour events, where he achieved world rankings in singles and doubles. He served as a practice partner for former ATP Tour top-ranked player Ivan Lendl during the last four years of his career.

In 2002, 2012, and 2023, Gastonguay was selected as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III Northeast Region Men's Coach of the Year. Gastonguay was inducted into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Maine Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023.