College Tennis News - Hodge to Lead USTA Collegiate Team

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma assistant men's tennis coach Bo Hodge will coach the 2013 USTA Men's Collegiate Team for the third consecutive year.

Hodge and Virginia's Andres Pedroso, with assistance from Notre Dame's Ryan Sachire, were chosen to lead the elite training program for the top American men's collegiate tennis players. Memphis head coach Lee Taylor-Walker and USC assistant West Nott will coach the women's team. The program, which began in 1996 and is funded by the USTA, is designed to provide players with valuable exposure to the USTA Pro Circuit in a team-oriented environment during the year.

"The USTA Collegiate Teams provide us the opportunity to work with some of the top Americans playing college tennis, and allow us to use the USTA Pro Circuit as a means to develop their games and keep these collegians on the pathway towards professional tennis," said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development. "These five coaches all have played or coached at the highest levels and can provide some great perspective for our top collegiate athletes."

Hodge will advise 12 team members that were selected based on performance at the NCAA Championships as well as performance during the regular season. Current professionals who are past participants of the collegiate program include John Isner, Bob and Mike Bryan, James Blake, Steve Johnson, Irina Falconi and Mallory Burdette.

Hodge completed his third year as an OU assistant coach under John Roddick. Hodge helped the Sooners win Big 12 regular season and tournament championships in 2012 and repeat as tournament champions in 2013. Following a brief stint as a touring professional, Hodge served as a coach and hitting partner for Venus and Serena Williams in 2006 and for Mardy Fish in 2007. Hodge was a four-time All-American at the University of Georgia, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2001 NCAA title. Hodge finished both 2001 and 2004 ranked No. 2 in the country and reached the 2004 NCAA doubles final with Isner.

The women's camp/playoff will be held the week of June 24 at the USTA Training Center - West in Carson, Calif., with the men's event taking place the week of July 8 at the USTA Training Center - East at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

This year's USTA Collegiate Team will include six men and six women, with each player earning his or her spot through merit. Twelve men and 12 women have been invited to the USTA Collegiate Team Camp/Playoffs, where the final members of the men's and women's teams will be determined.

All 24 players - the top eight Americans in the final ITA singles rankings and four wild cards selected by the USTA and ITA for both the men and the women - are invited to participate in the USTA Collegiate Team Camp. The invitees who have not already reserved a position on the team by meeting one of several benchmarks will play a round-robin tournament to determine the final team members.