June 30, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University has appointed Sacramento native Damon Coupe as the ninth head coach in school's 41-year women's tennis history, Director of Athletics and Recreation Cheryl L. Levick announced today. Coupe will begin his duties in July.

Damon recently completed his second season on the men's tennis coaching staff at Fresno State, where he was a key figure in turning around a team that went 7-16 in 2002 to posting an 18-9 record the following season, peaking at No. 35 in the national rankings and advancing to the NCAA Championship.

Coupe replaces Tricia Guidace, who served as an interim leader during the 2003-04 season after nine-year veteran Aby Ryan retired last fall. Guidace will remain on the staff as an assistant coach and will begin her third season as a Bronco this fall.

"Damon will be an exciting addition to our staff," Levick said. "He is highly qualified and will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the courts. We look forward to his leading the team to continued success this coming year."

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to work at a school that is held in very high regard both academically and athletically," Coupe said. "Tricia has already started to make this transition smooth and I'm inheriting a great group of student-athletes that are improving this program at a rapid pace. I'm looking forward to the task at hand."

A native of Sacramento, Coupe began his collegiate career at San Jose State but returned to his hometown as a sophomore and played for the Hornets. He graduated from Sacramento State in 1997 with a degree in Marketing.

He coached at his alma mater during the 2001-02 season as an assistant and then as an interim head coach for five months. He guided the Hornets to a 12-11 record, a Big Sky Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Championship.