2008 Woodie Awards
Tennis team welcomes new coach
by Matthew Jackson
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News
"He has a good pulse. I believe he can take us a long way in building the program," says Piedmont Athletic Director John Dzik.
The Piedmont College men's tennis team will start its 2008 season with a new coach. An eight-week search, which began with an advertisement in the local community paper ended with Courtney Rutherford being hired as a part-time coach with the tennis program. It called for several phone as well as personal interviews with search committees and Dzik himself.
"I like the environment of a small school," says Rutherford. "It's more family oriented."
Rutherford comes to Piedmont from the Buford area where he was involved as a tennis teaching pro. He was referred to the school by a member of the Board of Trustees whose daughter was taking tennis lessons from Rutherford. This is Rutherford's first time coaching Division-III players.
Dzik says, "Dealing with high-school aged people is a key element in both coaching and recruiting for colleges. Rutherford's experience was exactly what we were looking for."
As practice began this week players received the chance to experience the new methods of coaching that Rutherford is employing this season. Sophomore Stephanie Smith says, "He's a fun and interesting guy on and off the court. He's also making several improvements to the tennis program that are going to help the players and the game."
According to Lindsey Hughes, assistant coach for the tennis team, Piedmont has an extremely young team this year and the focus is on conditioning to see how the players can handle the change to improve their game.
"I want every player to set goals for the season," says Rutherford. "Then they will continue to increase their performance and win more matches."
Although Dzik has set no lofty goal for the season, he says that this is a transition year. "No matter what happens, I know the team will do their best."
The Piedmont College men's tennis team will start its 2008 season with a new coach. An eight-week search, which began with an advertisement in the local community paper ended with Courtney Rutherford being hired as a part-time coach with the tennis program. It called for several phone as well as personal interviews with search committees and Dzik himself.
"I like the environment of a small school," says Rutherford. "It's more family oriented."
Rutherford comes to Piedmont from the Buford area where he was involved as a tennis teaching pro. He was referred to the school by a member of the Board of Trustees whose daughter was taking tennis lessons from Rutherford. This is Rutherford's first time coaching Division-III players.
Dzik says, "Dealing with high-school aged people is a key element in both coaching and recruiting for colleges. Rutherford's experience was exactly what we were looking for."
As practice began this week players received the chance to experience the new methods of coaching that Rutherford is employing this season. Sophomore Stephanie Smith says, "He's a fun and interesting guy on and off the court. He's also making several improvements to the tennis program that are going to help the players and the game."
According to Lindsey Hughes, assistant coach for the tennis team, Piedmont has an extremely young team this year and the focus is on conditioning to see how the players can handle the change to improve their game.
"I want every player to set goals for the season," says Rutherford. "Then they will continue to increase their performance and win more matches."
Although Dzik has set no lofty goal for the season, he says that this is a transition year. "No matter what happens, I know the team will do their best."
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