renevidal – CAI

René Vidal

A bold change maker on a mission to turn adversity into competitive advantage.

“The hardest setback for me was the death of my father when I was thirteen years old. My entire life changed with one stroke. When I heard the news, I was dumbfounded. I had no clue what was going on, yet somewhere deep inside I did know. Life was about to get very difficult. I lost the greatest leader and mentor in my life. The whole game shifted.

I went from being a solid student and Ivy League prospect to attending three different New York high schools. I dropped from serving as a top 100 nationally ranked junior tennis player to a has-been overnight—having access to the best coaches, resources, and training academies to searching for hitting partners or the local backboard. My life became a total mishit.

When you experience devastating emotional and existential crises like this, every other kind of challenge pales in comparison. You become unstoppable by the mere fact that you are still breathing. Today, I’m on a mission to help others turn adversity into competitive advantage.”

René is one of America’s top coaches.

—Dick Gould, Stanford University

René Vidal is a seven-time NCAA championship coach, division 1 head coach, and founder of Corporate Athletes International (CAI), a premier boutique executive coaching agency built to radically elevate performance. He’s also a top-selling author, host of the Down 40 Love podcast, and speaker on leadership, culture, and the psychology of winning.

In 2022, Coach Vidal led the McKendree men’s tennis team to its first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship, a school best 21-3 record, and a program best Top 25 (No.22) final ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Regionals Round of 32 for the first time as Vidal earned GLVC Coach of the Year honors.

In 2024, Coach Vidal steered the NIU men’s program to an 18-6 record, a MAC Championship semifinal appearance, and a final top 100 ITA ranking.

René’s core focus is improving individual and team performance to create sea change.

A New York native, René is the proud father of three sons, Angelo, Manny, and Alex. He lives in Chicago with Sara Kalkenova.

René Vidal

René is one of America’s top coaches.

—Dick Gould, Stanford University

Coach Vidal's 5-Point Philosophy

Keep winning and losing in perspective.

Lead by example.

Value character as well as ability.

Go for respect over popularity.

Work hard and enjoy what you do.

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