DANBURY – After four years at the helm, Alex Aitchison of Newtown has stepped down as head coach of the Western Connecticut State University tennis teams.

After a length – and legendary – playing career, Aitchison took over the reigns of both the men’s and women’s tennis teams at WCSU. Currently, he is the program director and teaching professional at Beaver Brook Tennis Club in Danbury and since 1987 has been the President of Tennis Consultants International, a management and consulting service for tennis clubs, associations, organizations and individuals.

In 2001, Aitchison was inducted in the Newtown Sports Hall of Fame and in 2002 was inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame.

His playing career began back in 1940 and is the holder of numerous tournament titles in Australia and the United States. In 1963 and 1964, Aitchison captured singles championships at the Ringwood Tennis Club in Australia and from 1980 to 1984 the Melbourne University graduate (Class of 1955) represented Australia in the Stevens Cup (men’s senior international team competition).

In his time in and around the sport of tennis, Aitchison has been a member of the U.S. Open Junior Championship committee, the USTA Circuit Regulations committee, the USTA Olympic Committee, the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Committee and – from 1977 to 1986 – was the tournament director of the Rolex International Junior Tennis Championships (which he founded) on the International Tennis Federation circuit.

Aitchison is also a long-time member and past president of the Newtown Tennis Association.