EMORY, Va. --- Emory & Henry College
Director of Athletics Myra Sims is
pleased to announce Kevin Girard as the
College's next Head Men's Tennis Coach. Girard will begin his
duties immediately.
"We welcome Kevin and his successful head coaching experience to
our staff! His experience at the Division III level and the
success he had at Lawrence over his six years there will serve him,
and our program well," said Sims. "Having the
opportunity to focus on only one team here rather than coaching two
teams as he did at Lawrence, will allow him to really excel in
leading our men's program."
For the past six years, Girard has served as the Head Men's and
Women's Tennis Coach at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
While at the helm of both programs, Girard led the Vikings to
program highs and coached 80 Midwest Conference All-Academic Team
members.
"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to coach the Emory
& Henry Men's Tennis Team," said Girard. "I look forward
to continue to build on an already esteemed and successful
program."
Girard was selected as the Midwest Conference Men's Tennis Coach of
the Year this past spring and led Lawrence to the MWC Tournament
four out of six years. The Vikings had 16 wins in the 2011 season
and competed in the ITA Midwest Regional for the first time in
program history.
The Viking women claimed two Midwest Conference North Division
titles (2008, 2010) and won seven individual conference
championships over the six-year period. Girard saw his teams reach
the MWC Tournament in three of the last four years and had a
program record 14 wins during the 2011 season.
Prior to coaching at Lawrence, Girard was the Assistant Men's and
Women's Tennis Coach at Carnagie Mellon University in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. In his two years with the Tartans, he helped coach
eight All-Americans, and was part of a coaching staff that won UAA
Coaching Staff of the Year for both the men's and women's programs
in 2005-06. The CMU women's team reached a national ranking of 11
while the men were ranked as high as 14th.
"I am excited to have someone with Kevin's maturity and successful
coaching experience in the department, and am confident in his
ability to maintain a high level of competitive success in the
men's tennis program over time," Sims added.
Girard got his start in coaching at the high school level after
graduating from Michigan Technological University in 2003 with a
Bachelor's Degree in biological sciences. He also holds the
Professional Tennis Registry's highest certicification. A four-year
letterwinner for the Huskies, he remains the school's leader in
career doubles victories. As a prep standout at Marquette (Mich.)
High School, he was a two-time Upper Peninsula State Champion and
team captain.
--- This release is
courtesy of the Emory & Henry College sports information
department. ---
www.gowasps.com