There is no down time for Chris Abplanalp. The third-year head men’s and women’s squash coach, who has also been an assistant men’s lacrosse coach since 2000, moves from the non-traditional lacrosse season in the fall, to the start of squash season in October. With lacrosse starting back up again in January, and squash continuing through March, Abplanalp even does double duty for part of the year. Squeeze in a squash recruiting visit or two, and the two-sport coach has successfully maximized all of his time.

This year was particularly busy for Abplanalp, who led both the men’s and women’s squash teams to the CSA Tournament, the national post-season tournament for squash. The men won the Summers Cup and finished the season 17th in the nation, the highest finish in program history. The women also achieved success, taking the Epps Cup.

With so many coaching differences between squash and lacrosse, Abplanalp says the changeover from the two sports keeps the coaching experience interesting. “With squash you are more of a motivator and when the competition comes, you let the chips fall.” He says. “With lacrosse, you are designing plays, scouting teams and coaching a bigger group of people.”

Abplanalp looks forward to a planned addition to Robie Squash Center, one of the finest squash facilities in the country. A tenth court, one of only a handful of dark-walled glass exhibition courts in North America, will be added this summer.

“The facilities are among the finest in the country and they are just getting better with the tenth court,” Abplanalp says.