Aldo Santiago
Aldo Santiago
Title: Head Tennis Coach
Phone: 413-538-2852
Email: asantiag@mtholyoke.edu

Aldo Santiago enters his 30th season as head coach of the Mount Holyoke College tennis team in 2022-23. Additionally, Santiago currently serves as the Physical Education Coordinator within the Department of Physical Education and Athletics at Mount Holyoke.

At Mount Holyoke College

  • Regarded as one of the top coaches in the northeast and has won over 250 matches as the head coach at Mount Holyoke College.
  • Has had student-athletes earn multiple NEWMAC honors, including the NEWMAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Year in 2001.
  • His players have earned 24 NEWMAC All-Conference honors, including five following the 2006 season.
  • Three student-athletes have earned NEWMAC Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year honors under Santiago's leadership.
  • Guided the Lyons to appearances in 16 of the last 17 NEWMAC Tennis Tournaments.
  • Lyons have advanced to the tournament Semifinals in three of the last five seasons. 
  • Earned ITA Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors at the conclusion of the 2004-05 season.

Before Mount Holyoke College

  • Assistant Coach for the men's tennis team at The Ohio State University.
    • Helped lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship in 1991.
    • In 1986, Santiago was an assistant coach for women's tennis team at Ohio University.

Playing Career

  • Once ranked among the top five amateur players in Puerto Rico, Santiago played tennis for four years at the University of Puerto Rico and was named Most Valuable Player in his senior season. 
  • He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in physical education from Puerto Rico and his Master of Science degree in physical education from Ohio.

More about Coach Santiago

Santiago's players have offered instruction to young people in the local community and have conducted weekly workouts for faculty and friends. His teams travel to his home in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico during spring break most seasons.

In addition to his duties as tennis coach at Mount Holyoke, Santiago also teaches all levels of raquet sports, including tennis, badminton and squash. He is also heavily involved with Mount Holyoke's Posse Scholars Program, and serves as the Posse 3 mentor, which graduated in 2016. 

Season Overall Conference Highlights
1993-94 2-16-0 0-7-0  -----
1994-95 6-14-0 1-6-0  -----
1995-96 6-13-0 2-5-0  -----
1996-97 4-16-0 1-6-0  -----
1997-98 5-14-0 3-4-0  -----
1998-99 11-10-0 5-3-0  -----
1999-00 15-9-0 5-3-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2000-01 13-7-1 4-4-0  -----
2001-02 11-9-0 5-3-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2002-03 12-10-0 4-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2003-04 11-10-0 2-6-0  -----
2004-05 10-10-0 3-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
ITA Northeast Region Coach of the Year
2005-06 10-10-0 3-4-0 NEWAC Tournament
2006-07 10-12-0 4-3-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2007-08 7-13-0 2-5-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2008-09 10-8-0 3-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2009-10 10-11-0 3-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2010-11 9-11-0 3-4-0 NEWMAC Tounament
2011-12 9-11-0 3-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2012-13 11-9-0 4-3-0 NEWMAC Tounament
2013-14 11-9-0 4-4-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2014-15 14-9-0 4-4-0 NEWMAC Tounament
2015-16 14-9-0 5-3-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2016-17 14-8-0 5-3-0 NEWMAC Tounament
2017-18 8-11-0 5-3-0 NEWMAC Tournament
2018-19 11-10 4-4 NEWMAC Tournament
2019-20 2-3 0-0 Spring Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020-21 0-0 0-0 Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021-22 4-10 3-5 NEWMAC Tournament
Totals 260-292-1 (.472) 92-112 (.451)  

 

Eric Cestero
Eric Cestero
Title: Assistant Tennis Coach

Eric Cestero joined the tennis staff as the assistant coach in 1997. In addition to his work with the tennis team, he also served as the assistant for the Lyons squash team.

During his time at MHC, Cestero has worked with head coach Aldo Santiago, to help guide the Lyons to appearances in 14 of the last 16 NEWMAC Tennis Tournaments. Additionally, the squad has earned a playoff spot in 11 consecutive seasons, advancing to the tournament Semifinals in 2014.

Cestero has helped mentor a number of outstanding Mount Holyoke student-athletes, including a NEWMAC Player of the Year, three NEWMAC Rookies of the Year and countless All-Conference honorees. Additional to his duties at Mount Holyoke, Cestero also serves as the head coach for the South Hadley High School varsity girls' tennis team. Since his arrival in 1997, he has guided the Tigers to six Divisional Championships, and to the Massachusetts State Finals in 2009.

Cestero also served as the head boy's volleyball coach at Central High School (1997-2000) and the assistant tennis coach at Holyoke Community College (1996-2000).

In addition to his coaching duties, Cestero has served in a number of teaching positions. Most recently, he served as a physical education teacher at New Leadership Charter School (2008-11) and the High School of Commerce in Springfield (1999-07).

Cestero also spent 26 years as an associate professor and lecturer at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon. During that time, he served as the Acting Chairman for the Department of Physical Education and as a student advisor. He also supervised the Human Exercise Laboratory and developed, trained and supervised the Athletic Trainer's Clinic.

Additionally, Cestero coached a number of teams at Bayamon, including the varsity boys' and girls' tennis teams, along with the varsity girls' basketball and softball teams.

Cestero earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from the Inter-American University. He attained his Master's in Physical Education from New York University.