MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A familiar face to West Tennessee tennis will take over the Christian Brothers University men's and women's tennis programs. Giovanni Plater has been named the new head coach of both programs by Dr. Ricky Jackson, Interim Director of Athletics.

"Coach Plater is a well-respected figure in the Memphis tennis community, and we're excited to have him lead our men's and women's programs," Jackson said. "His experience as a player, coach, and mentor—combined with his passion for developing athletes—makes him the right fit to elevate CBU Tennis."

Plater served as head coach at LeMoyne-Owen College from 2016-2019 and has worked as the head teaching professional at Windyke Country Club since 2020. His time at Windyke has included a focus on skill development and competitive play with both junior and adult tennis programing. He also coordinated leagues and tournaments, and introduced pickleball to the club. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Plater played collegiately at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. A Second-Team All-SIAC performer in 2014, he helped the Tigers to a third-place finish in the SIAC Tournament. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2014, Plater moved to Memphis and began competing in International Tennis Federation tournaments. He traveled to tournaments in Guadalajara, Manzanillo and Mexico, and was on the winning team for the United States Tennis Association Men's 4.5 National Tournament in 2023.

Plater also has a Master's of Science in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University.