Tennis Anyone?

[GODAWGSGO]

Lama Named North Texas Women’s Tennis Coach Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 06/14/2006
Courtesy: University of Illinois Sports Information Office
DENTON (6/14/06) -- North Texas Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal has announced that Sujay Lama, who led the Univ. of Illinois to five NCAA Tournament appearances over the last eight seasons, has been named the Mean Green women’s tennis head coach.

Lama compiled a dual-meet record of 108-84, including a 60-34 mark in Big Ten play, during his eight-year career as the Illini’s head coach. In addition to leading the school to five NCAA Tournament appearances, his team ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation in the spring of 2004.

"I am very excited about this opportunity to work at the University of North Texas," said Lama. "Rick has a great vision for the athletic department and all its programs. He was one of the biggest reasons I was interested in the job, but all the people in the athletics department and in the community have been great."

North Texas will be the third stop in Lama’s collegiate coaching career, also serving as the top assistant at the Univ. of Florida from 1995 to 1998 before taking over at Illinois. The Mean Green finished with a 6-18 record in 2006 at its new facility, the Waranch Tennis Pavilion.

"North Texas is in a wonderful location and has a tremendous tennis facility," said Lama. "I want to build the tennis program the right way and I have a vision for making it very special."

Lama turned the Illinois tennis program around right away, taking the Illini from a ninth-place finish in the Big Ten the year before his arrival to a third-place finish in his first year at the helm. In 2003-04 the Illini went 17-6, posting their best winning percentage since Illinois’ first team went 6-0 in 1975. Additionally, Lama led Illinois to a victory over top-ranked Duke, 4-3, at the UI Atkins Tennis Center in 2003.

Among the other milestones the Illinois women’s tennis program reached under Lama is winning its first-ever NCAA Tournament match in May of 2001.

During Lama’s time at Illinois, he coached the tennis program’s first Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Rookie of the Year in the Midwest Region, nine All-Big Ten players, four Big Ten Medal of Honor players, 13 ITA Scholar-Athletes and two Academic All-Americans. UI women’s tennis players earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition 42 times under Lama.

While at Florida, he helped lead the Gators to two NCAA titles, three SEC crowns and three undefeated dual-match seasons. Lama was honored for his contribution as the 1997 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year in the South Region.

Prior to Florida, Lama was the Senior Staff Professional at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center in Hilton Head, S.C., where he worked with the elite player development program (for touring pros and top junior players) from 1992-95. A noted teacher and clinician, Lama has worked at tennis camps across the United States, Europe and Asia. He has earned the highest certification level with the USPTR and the USPTA, and is a USTA Certified High Performance Coach.

The Nepal native attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, from 1988-92 and was a two-time Volvo Collegiate All-American in singles (1991-92). He also earned Senior Player of the Year honors in the Midwest Region in 1992 and was ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III singles. Lama dominated the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference the four years he competed at Luther. He was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in the fall of 2002.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Luther College in 1992, earning GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during his time there. He was the recipient of the U.S./Nepal Educational Foundation Scholarship from 1990-92. Lama has traveled in more than 50 countries and is fluent in English, German, Hindi and Nepalese. He has lived five or more years on three continents (Asia, Europe and North America).

[oledawg66]

Drums keep pounding rhythm to the brain. . . . Just another example of someone else gettin r done.