Mark Bohren
The most successful coach in the history of Azusa Pacific tennis, Mark Bohren begins his 13th year at the helm of the Cougar men's program and his 11th year as the Cougar women's head coach.
Bohren had an instrumental role in establishing the program in 1997, and he has been the only head coach in the 10-year history of the Azusa Pacific women's program. He has posted a 247-69 (.782) mark on the men's side, while the Cougar women have gone 149-81 (.648) under his tutelage.
Women's Tennis Coaching Experience
After helping get Azusa Pacific's women's tennis program started in 1998, Bohren has guided the Cougars to 8 straight NAIA Tournament appearances, 1 GSAC championship (2000) and 5 GSAC runner-up finishes. In the past 4 seasons, the Cougars have averaged 20 wins and posted a 41-10 conference mark, finishing in the GSAC top 3 each year.
Last season, he guided Azusa Pacific to its fourth straight NAIA quarterfinal appearance after posting its second consecutive NAIA Region II runner-up finish. The Cougars registered a 17-5 record, and 3 Cougars appeared on the NAIA All-American list for the first time in program history.
In 2000, Bohren led the Cougars to the GSAC title with a perfect 10-0 conference mark in just their third year as a program, as well as the program's first of 8 consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances. In 2004, Azusa Pacific notched a program-record 21 wins and posted its best national showing ever with an NAIA title match appearance. The Cougars again registered 21 wins in each of the next 2 seasons and advanced to the 2005 and 2006 NAIA semifinals, as well.
Bohren's teams have featured 10 NAIA All-American selections, including 4-time NAIA All-American first team honoree Jennifer Dao. His roster has also featured at least 1 NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete recipient in each of the past 7 seasons, including 2005 ITA/NAIA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner Lynn Quitoriano. The Cougars have been honored 3 times as an NAIA All-America Scholar Team (2003, 2005, 2007), and Bohren has had Azusa Pacific ranked in the NAIA's Top 20 in each of the past 9 seasons.
Men's Tennis Coaching Experience
Bohren has lifted Azusa Pacific's men's tennis program to the most successful run in program history, taking the Cougars to an NAIA-record 5 straight national championship matches. His squad posted a 27-4 record, the fifth straight season of 25 wins or more and the 11th straight winning campaign for the Cougars.
The 2003 Cougars became the first squad in program history to record more than 20 victories, posting a 25-7 mark en route to Azusa Pacific's first-ever national title match. The Cougars were even better in 2004, recording a school-record 31 wins in just 33 matches, resulting in a second straight NAIA title match. It all came together in 2005 for Azusa Pacific, which knocked off Santa Fe (N.M.), 5-3, for the program's first national championship. In 2006, Bohren led his team into a fourth straight championship match with a 26-1 record, although the Cougars had to settle for a runner-up finish after suffering just its second defeat of the campaign to Auburn Montgomery.
For his work, Bohren has received numerous accolades. He is a 2-time recipient of the prestigious NAIA Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year award (2004 and 2006), in addition to being named the 2005 NAIA Coach of the Year.
Under his tutulage, Sam Fletcher was named the Ward-Ballinger Outstanding Player of the 2004 NAIA Tournament, which acknowledges the top player in the NAIA, and he has also mentored 2 ITA/NAIA Rookie of the Year honorees and 2006 ITA/NAIA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner Tom Jelsma. Since 1997, Bohren's players have been awarded 32 NAIA All-American honors, including 4 2-time honorees, 1 3-time honoree and 3 4-time honorees. In addition to standout play on the court, 4 of Bohren's last 5 teams have earned NAIA All-America Scholar Team recognition for its academic success.
Bohren has won 6 straight Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards and has been named the NAIA Region II Coach of the Year 8 straight seasons.
The Cougars have won 6 consecutive GSAC championships on the strength of a record 52-match conference winning streak. All 9 of Azusa Pacific's conference championships have come in the last 14 years. Additionally, the Cougars have made 8 straight appearances in the NAIA quarterfinals and have won 8 consecutive NAIA Region II championships.
Azusa Pacific has recorded 12 straight winning seasons following his initial 8-10 campaign as a rookie head coach, and the Cougars have won 5 straight and 9 of the past 10 team championships at the annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. His teams have been ranked in the NAIA's top 15 in each of the past 11 seasons and in the top 10 in each of the past 8.
An avid instructor, Bohren spent 6 years working with Pam Austin, the older sister of Tracy Austin, at the Industry Hills Tennis Center as a teaching pro where he ran a successful junior development program working with the top-ranked regional and national players. He also earned his United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Pro One, which is the highest coaching credential the USTPA offers.
He has also been active in the NAIA Coaches' Association since 1999 spending time as the president (2001-02), vice president (2000-01) and secretary (1999-2000). He has also been on the NAIA Rating Committee in each of his seasons as a head coach. In addition, Bohren has been on the ITA Small College Operating Committee since 2000.
Bohren, who played 4 seasons for former Cougar head coach Jack Carter, graduated with honors from Azusa Pacific in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He later earned a master's in education in 1999 from Azusa Pacific.
He and his wife, Joelle, have been married for 14 years. The Bohrens live in San Antonio Heights, Calif., with their 2 boys, Leyton (8) and Brody (4).
