Tell us about your background and how you ended up coaching at UIS:
I have been closely connected with tennis my whole life. I grew up playing in Spain and went on to play at Young Harris College. After graduating, I wanted to give back to the sport that has provided me with amazing opportunities. I was fortunate to be hired by Coach Schall as an Assistant Coach and went on to become the head coach this past Spring.
What do you like best about the sport you coach:
Tennis is a very tough sport mentally. In almost every other sport you have contact with your opponents or a team to fall back on. But in tennis you are on an island playing by yourself with nothing but the ball surrounding you. To me, the best thing is when I see the players being able to figure out matches on their own and being mentally resilient. Sometimes this process takes time, so it is especially rewarding to see players develop their mental strength over time.
What has been the top moment/game of your coaching career:
Hard to choose just one! On the women’s side, the day that we beat Maryville to make it to the semifinals of the conference tournament for first time in program history. That team had worked very hard together for a few years and it was a good testament to how far they came. On the men’s side, in 2018 when we beat Southern Indiana. That was a very good team that had gone through a few heartbreaking 4-3 losses. However, with that win we were reassured that we were going to make it to the conference tournament for the first time which took pressure off their shoulders and made them play looser throughout the season.
What’s the best thing about coaching at UIS:
The best thing about coaching at UIS is the support system in the athletics department. Everyone is working towards a common goal and it shows on a daily basis.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not coaching:
I like to spend time watching/playing all kind of sports. Mostly tennis, soccer, and football. I also enjoy reading and travelling to somewhere new every year.
