Thursday, March 19, 2009

Valparaiso University director of athletics Mark LaBarbera has announced that Jay Adams has stepped down as head coach of the Crusader women’s tennis team and Traci Young has been named the team’s new head coach.

“We thank Coach Adams for his work with our tennis program and wish him well,” LaBarbera said.  “We are excited to have a person of Traci Young’s playing and teaching experience join our program.  She is well respected in the tennis community and will provide strong leadership.”

Adams served as the team’s coach since July, 2007, returning to his alma mater three years after completing his playing career for the Brown and Gold.  This season the Crusaders are 1-9 after finishing ninth in the Horizon League in 2008.

Young brings extensive tennis coaching experience to the Crusader program.  She has been the tennis director and teaching professional at the Courts of Northwest Indiana in Valparaiso and prior to that was a tennis instructor in both Carmel, Ind. and Columbus, Ohio.  Young was an assistant high school coach for the Worthington ChristianSchools as well as having served as a counselor for Miami University tennis camps.  She played her collegiate tennis at Ohio University.

Young has also added Anne Brandt to her coaching staff as an assistant coach.  Brandt has a great deal of playing experience, having been a USTA league player and team captain since 1992.  She was a USTA NorCal Grand Prix Champion in both women’s and mixed doubles play, and was the NorCal Tournament Player of the Year in 1996.

Valparaiso will open Horizon League play on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. CDT match against Butler in Indianapolis, Ind.