College Tennis News - Jenny Mainz Named National Coach of the Year for Women's Tennis

URBANA, Ill. - Head coach Jenny Mainz has been named the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Coach of the Year for women's tennis. Mainz was presented with the award Tuesday morning during a ceremony on the campus of the University of Illinois, in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Team Championships.

"We have obviously had a good season, but this award is a compilation of everyone that has given anything to this program," said Mainz. "Like John Wooden said, `It takes 10 hands to make a basket.' I feel privileged to lead the Crimson Tide every day, and I am blessed that Coach (Mal) Moore, Coach (Bill) Battle and Kevin Almond have let me do just that. I cannot thank the team enough, along with my assistants Max (Norris) and Mari (Muller) for their support. This is a special team and a special moment."

Mainz, in her 16th season at The Capstone, guided the Crimson Tide to its first appearance in the NCAA Round of 16 in program history in 2013. Alabama finished the year with a 21-6 record, marking the first 20-win season under Mainz and the first for the Tide since 1984. In addition to the team's success, Mainz has coached several individual standouts including All-Americans Alexa Guarachi and Mary Anne Macfarlane.

Throughout her tenure in Tuscaloosa, Mainz has earned Wilson/ITA Southern Region Coach of the Year honors three times (2009, 2011, 2013) and was named the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2011, 2012). Under her direction, Alabama has won the SEC Western Division crown four times and advanced to postseason play on 10 occasions. In the last three seasons, the Tide has won 55 matches, which is the most in a three-year span for the Tide in the modern collegiate tennis era.

"Good things happen when everyone is working hard and doing the right thing," added Mainz. "This means a lot to me, but it is a result of everyone's contributions. Mal Moore taught me so much about leading. All season, we've played with him in our hearts. He led with such dignity and class, and he's instilled that in me, and it has permeated through all of our teams and coaches. I am thankful he and Coach Battle have believed in us, supported us and have given us the resources we need to be successful. There is no way we would be here as a team if we didn't have that support."