St. John Fisher University Athletics

Jason Byam, inducted into the St. John Fisher University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, became head coach of the Cardinals' men's and women's tennis teams in August 2025.

Byam had a massively successful first year leading his alma mater's programs. The women’s team went 6-8 overall (5-3 Empire 8 Conference) and reached the conference tournament, while the men’s team authored the best season in school history. The Cardinals, who went 12-4 overall (8-0 Empire 8 regular season), downed Norwich and Alfred to capture their first Empire 8 Championship, played in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time and set a program record with an 11-match winning streak. Fisher’s 12 wins marked its most since the 2006 team won a program-record 13 matches. 

St. John Fisher’s men's team claimed three of the four major Empire 8 awards for the 2026 season, with Byam being named Coach of the Year. Tyler Hernandez claimed Player of the Year honors for the second time in three seasons and garnered the Doubles Team of the Year recognition with his partner, Will Chubb. 

The Cardinals’ women’s team had a pair of All-Empire 8 selections for the 2025 fall season. Lily Miller became Fisher’s first first-team singles honoree since 2021, while Lilly Renzi, a second-team pick in singles, earned All-E8 honors for the third time in her career. 

A 2006 St. John Fisher graduate, Byam played under longtime Cardinals tennis coach Linda Gohagan. He recorded the most wins (81) by a men’s tennis player in school history and earned All-Empire 8 honors six times in singles and doubles during his collegiate career. 

Byam previously served as the head tennis professional at the Mendon Racquet Club, where he coached youth, high school and collegiate tennis players. He has continued playing competitively since graduating, winning three Rochester District championships in doubles. 

Year-By-Year At Fisher (Men's Tennis)

Year-By-Year At Fisher (Women's Tennis)

By The Numbers Under Byam 

All-Empire 8 Singles Honors Earned (Men’s): 5 (2 first team)

All-Empire 8 Doubles Teams (Men’s): 2 (1 first team)

All-Empire 8 Singles Honors Earned (Women’s): 2 (1 first team)

Empire 8 Player of the Year Winners (Men's): 1… Tyler Hernandez (2026)

Empire 8 Doubles Teams of the Year Winners (Men's): 1… Tyler Hernandez/Will Chubb (2026)

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors Earned (Men’s): 2

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors Earned (Women’s): 4

Updated 8/18/2026