Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics

Coach Chi Ly coached his 16th season in 2020-21 as head coach of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams. This is his 31st season overall coaching.

Ly, who has a diverse background in academics, athletics and coaching, also serves in a leadership role for Sailfish Athletics in academic support by overseeing the academic progress of more than 200 student-athletes.

Under his direction, the men’s and women’s tennis teams have developed into solid competitors in the NCAA South Region. During his coaching tenure, both teams made their first-ever appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament while also finding much success in National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) postseason play.

Ly's 2017 men's tennis team had a very successful season, as they finished 15-10 overall, and posted a 5-3 record in the always-tough Sunshine State Conference.  Ly's men's tennis team made the NCAA South Regional for the first time since 2008 before being knocked out by Saint Leo. 

Ly’s squads consistently have represented PBA at the NCCAA National Tournament over the past 10 seasons with the women’s team claiming their second NCCAA National Championship in 2012 while the men earned the title in 2010 and the national runner-up in 2015.

The 2010 season proved to be historic for both tennis programs as each earned a trip to the NCCAA National Championship match, while the women were named to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time in program history. They collected another milestone that season when they earned a first-round win over Delta State (Miss.) University for PBA’s first NCAA postseason victory.

The men’s team made history when in 2008 they became the first PBA athletic team to earn a trip to NCAA postseason play as they were named to the field of teams at the NCAA South Regional Tournament. 

Ly came to PBA from Alma College in Alma, Mich., where he was head coach of the women’s tennis and soccer teams for eight years.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a certification in secondary education from Messiah College in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Pensacola Christian College in Florida. Ly competed on both the soccer and tennis teams while a student at Messiah College.

A certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Registry with a National Soccer Coaches Association of America diploma, Ly has completed numerous tennis coaching clinics at the Van Der Meer Tennis University and is a tennis clinician and private tennis instructor.

He and his wife, Michele, and their daughters, Angel and Anita, live in West Palm Beach.

LY'S CAREER NUMBERS