Belmont Abbey College Finalizes Reidy Tennis Center Construction with Alumni Gift

Belmont, N.C. (October 7, 2025) – Belmont Abbey College has received a significant donation from alumnus Doug Ehmann, class of 1985, enabling the completion of the Reidy Tennis Center and Pavilion, a facility honoring the late Coach Michael “Mike” Reidy.

Doug Ehmann, a longtime supporter of the College, has contributed significantly to campus life over the years. A former member of the Board of Trustees, Ehmann helped build the Abbey’s golf team and served as its coach, supported improvements to the Wheeler Center, and played a pivotal role in the development of the tennis facilities. In 2008, he was honored with the Br. Gregory Corcoran Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award—recognition that not only highlights his personal accomplishments but also exemplifies the meaningful ways Belmont Abbey alumni continue to give back. Personally acquainted with Coach Reidy and inspired by his legacy, Ehmann’s recent $1.4 million donation provides the final funding needed to complete the Reidy Tennis Center and Pavilion.

Coach Mike Salomon, head tennis coach at Belmont Abbey, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Our mission in Abbey Tennis is to build up our student-athletes in mind, body, and soul. We’re grateful for the generosity of Doug Ehmann and hope to exhibit the legacy of Mike Reidy on the courts for years to come.”

“Doug’s impact on our community has been instrumental to the Abbey’s progress and success. We are deeply grateful for his continued support of Belmont Abbey College,” said Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Interim President of Belmont Abbey College.

Coach Reidy, who joined Belmont Abbey College in 1969, led the men’s tennis team for 31 years. Under his guidance, the team secured six conference titles and made seven national tournament appearances, including reaching the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in 2001. Reidy was named conference Coach of the Year four times and also led the women’s tennis program to a conference championship in 1999. His contributions established Belmont Abbey’s holistic approach, which serves as a life-changing foundation for student-athletes that yields success on and off the court. Bonnie Reidy, Mike’s wife of more than fifty years, served as a second mom to many of the tennis players—offering encouragement, support, and a welcoming presence that made the Abbey feel like home. She continues to be a beloved friend of the Abbey and a cherished part of its extended community.

Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., reflected on Coach Reidy’s legacy, “Coach Reidy’s most enduring legacy comes from his role as a mentor and teacher for innumerable players, students, and friends. He taught his players that academics were first and that if you did not learn sportsmanship, you were not on his team. Countless alumni refer to him as a second father and acknowledge that they owe much of their success, personally and professionally, to Coach.”

The Reidy Tennis Center and Pavilion will include locker and shower rooms, restrooms, coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, gathering spaces, and outdoor fan seating. Construction is set to begin early next year.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its programs, visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

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Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Joseph Rowzie

Last year, Belmont Abbey tennis won the Conference Carolinas Tennis Tournament for the first time in the program’s history. It came down to a tight score of 4-2 against Mount Olive, a formidable opponent. In addition to winning the conference championship, Belmont Abbey tennis made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional since 2001! Their opponent was set to be Columbus State, the number 1 seed of the region. Though the match ended in a loss, that year’s success set a path to a brighter future for the Belmont Abbey College tennis program. I asked returner Andy Golindano: “what was it like to win a conference championship?” And he responded by saying, “I have never felt so many different emotions just to be met with the greatest sense of relief.”

Behind every great team, there is a greater coach, and that coach’s name is Michael Solomon. I went around and talked to the returners of the Belmont Abbey tennis team and asked them a few questions about how Coach Solomon has impacted the program and this year’s team. One of the questions was: “if you could describe Coach Solomon in one word, what would it be?” The most popular words were hardworking and professional, and many would say that he took Belmont’s tennis to a higher standard of work ethic and play.

What makes this team more than your ordinary program is the steam standards. Out of the eleven, I have seen enforced the most: compete, respect, and have positive enthusiasm. To this team, respect is more than a thank you or please, in a competitive sense, respect is shown through honesty and competitiveness but on and off the court, treating everyone as images of God is key to our success. In all the matches, I always hear the coach telling the team and myself to “compete.” To compete is to play with your tools and bring the best tennis you can. I remember him telling me a story about one of his college matches where he was a set and, like, 4 or 5 games down; he found a way to win. And that’s when he started to believe there is always a chance to win.

We, as freshmen, have to recite these team standards if we want to receive tennis gear. And these standards apply to life, practice, and matches. Belmont tennis is brought to a higher standard through our coach and is carried on through each first-year class that has come to Belmont tennis. As a freshman entering a brand-new college environment, making friends and settling in can be a struggle. Believe me when I say I have never been more welcomed into a group in my whole life than this team in the Abbey. I believe that this team has had this much success because of the way they treat newcomers and each other. This team wins together, and they lose together with excellence.

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.