The Johns Hopkins Department of Athletics debuted its Faculty-Coach initiative during the 2025-26 academic year. The program is designed to engage faculty members and create meaningful relationships and community between academic affairs and athletics by serving in a mentoring and supportive role of JHU's scholar-athletes.
 
Faculty Coaches will serve as honorary members of the coaching staff and act as an additional support person for scholar-athletes on the team.  They are available to answer academic questions and help direct scholar-athletes, particularly first year students, to the many resources available to all Johns Hopkins students.
 
The initial two-year commitment, which comes with an option to extend, provides the faculty member the opportunity to attend as many games and practices as their schedule allows, to watch games from the sideline/bench area, and to attend team-specific events, including end-of-year banquets and awards ceremonies.
 
Throughout the 2026-27 academic year, HopkinsSports.com will utilize a Q&A format to allow fans to learn more about a team's designated Faculty-Coach.  Today, we introduce Jonathan Flombaum, the Faculty-Coach for the Blue Jay Men's Tennis Team.

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Name:  Jonathan Flombaum
 
Faculty-Coach Team:  Men's Tennis
 
Alma Mater:  Harvard
 
Position/Title at Johns Hopkins:  Associate Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences
 
Year at Johns Hopkins: 17th
 
Tell us a little about your own athletic background:  I don't have a lot of organized or formal sports experience. I played basketball in middle school and high school, but it was low key, and mostly recreational. In college and in graduate school I played pick-up basketball, but by the middle of grad school I was too old and out of shape and it became frustrating. Since then, it's just weights, yoga, and running to stay healthy. 
 
What is your favorite sport:  I love basketball. I'm addicted to the NBA. Because of my kids, I've also become a big tennis fan.
 
How did you become involved in the Johns Hopkins Athletics Faculty-Coach program:  I teach a very big class every spring (Introduction to Cognitive Psychology). Over the years, I've had a lot of scholar-athletes pass through, and I must have done something right because some students suggested me.
 
While the program is still in its infancy, tell us about your experience working with your team thus far:  I'm so in awe of our scholar-athletes in general. They are so disciplined and committed, and I can't imagine how they find the time and energy to accomplish so much. When I first got assigned to tennis and looked up the roster, I had a moment of panic because of how impressive the guys are. In comparison, I felt like, "what am I doing with my life." But it's been such a pleasure meeting the team, and I've gotten over my inferiority complex by bringing my kids to matches with me. I feel like the guys on the team are amazing role-models, and I think they inspire my kids to make the most of their gifts and opportunities.
 
What has most surprised you, if anything, about working with and meeting the coaching staff and athletes on your team:  They all seem so relaxed and deliberate as they practice and compete. I realized how much their training is mental as much as it is physical.
 
As the faculty-coach for the team, what is your goal or what do you hope to accomplish:  My family and I are excited to have the team over at some point. But most of all, I hope to be an advocate and a resource for them. I hope that over time they'll feel comfortable coming to me to talk about their academic and career plans, using me as a sounding board, and asking for help navigating challenges as they come up.
 
Either since you assumed this role or before that time, what is your most memorable Johns Hopkins Athletics experience:  We live close to campus, and we often walk through on the weekends. When we first moved into the neighborhood, I remember that we discovered a football game. I can't remember who Hopkins was playing, but it was so much fun, and we ended up staying for the whole game. On the walk home two comments were repeated. (1) The Johns Hopkins Pep Band is awesome! (2) I didn't know Hopkins was good at football. That's so cool.
 
If you have had the opportunity to have scholar-athletes in your class (from your team or others), please describe your experience with them as students:  I think that being part of a team builds a kind of confidence and a sense of cooperation and shared purpose that translates incredibly well to the classroom and the lab. 
 
What would you tell faculty members who are not involved about this program:  It's so fun!
And it can be a wonderful thing to share with your family.
 
Tell us something about yourself that not many people are aware of or that you think people would find interesting:  When you see me walking around campus with earbuds, I'm probably listening to a podcast about the NBA.