Hayden Perez
Perez's Coaching Philosophy
"I will do my best to ensure that team members have the resources to succeed in the classroom, on the court, and in life. My goal is to provide an environment filled with enthusiasm, positive energy, and leadership; giving these young women the skills they need to grow as both players and people."
Associate Head Coach Hayden Perez enters his eighth season at Nebraska in 2012-13. Perez is in his 13th season as a collegiate coach and assists with team travel, recruiting, practices and on-court coaching. The Huskers have had a combined record of 128-52 in Perez's seven seasons as assistant coach.
In his first season with the Huskers, Perez helped guide Nebraska to its second consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament, as NU finished with a 17-10 record and advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 Big 12 Championships. Perez assisted the development of Kim Hartmann, who was named the 2006 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
Perez helped the Huskers to a 16-7 record in 2009, including a 7-4 Big 12 mark, and was instrumental in coaching Nebraska to its first-ever NCAA tournament victory over Illinois.
Perez was named the ITA Central Region's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007 as one of eight coaches in the eight ITA regions to receive the award. Perez was automatically qualified along with the other seven coaches for the National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Perez assisted the Huskers to their record-breaking 22-6 finish in 2010, in which the team finished third in the Big 12 Conference and 35th in the nation. His coaching role was also key in the seasons of All-Big 12 selections Madeleine Geibert, Mary Weatherholt and Stefanie Weinstein. For his efforts, Perez was named the ITA Central Region's Assistant Coach of the Year for the second time in four years.
Perez played a key part in guiding NU to their second-straight 20-win season in 2011, where the team capped the year with an NCAA tournament bid and finished 43rd in the ITA Divison I Women's National Rankings. Under Perez's tutelage, Madeleine Geibert and Patricia Veresova both received All-Big 12 honors.
Perez helped continue the Huskers streak of 20-win seasons in 2012 as well as a rank of 16 at season's end in the ITA team rankings. With the guidance of Perez, Mary Weatherholt achieved both the Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Year award and First Team All-Big Ten honors along with Patricia Veresova achieving Second Team All-Big Ten.
Before coming to Lincoln, Perez spent the 2004-05 season at Florida State. At FSU, Perez helped Mihaela Moldovan earn All-America honors, the Seminoles' first All-American in nine years. Perez helped the Seminoles to a 2005 NCAA Tournament appearance and a final ranking of 43rd in the ITA team poll.
Perez's coaching experience also includes stints at Cameron University, Wyoming and Air Force. At Air Force, Perez also worked as the Director of Player Development for the Intermountain Section of the U.S. Tennis Association where he oversaw endorsement opportunities, scheduling, rankings and junior competition.
As a player, Perez earned MVP honors twice and advanced to the finals of the Midwest Region Championships in 1996 while playing at Cameron University. He was ranked as high as No. 17 in singles and earned a top-five national ranking in Men's Open Doubles by the U.S. Tennis Association.
At Collin County (Texas) CC, Perez helped the team to an NJCAA national team championship in 1995, when he won the doubles national title and earned first-team All-America honors. Perez earned a No. 1 national ranking in doubles and was ranked in the top 30 in singles play at the junior college level.
Perez, who won at least 20 matches in each of his four years of collegiate tennis, was previously a member of the Abilene (Texas) High School squad that won the 1991 Class 5A state title. He still plays competitive tennis on the national scene in the Men's 30 Division and in select tournaments throughout the year.
Perez graduated from Cameron University in 1999 with a business administration degree, and is married to the former Gretchen McGeough. They have two sons: Tristen, born in October 2008 and Tanner, born in February 2012.
