Men’s Tennis Coaching Staff Receives ITA Regional Recognition

(SKILLMAN, N.J.) – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its regional award winners on Wednesday, May 14 and both head coach Andrew Girard and assistant coach Mike Belmonte were honored on the men's side for the Atlantic South Region.  Girard was named Wilson/ITA Region Coach of the Year while Belmonte was named Assistant Region Coach of the Year.

The Tartans finished the season with a dual-match record of 18-7 and were ranked as high as fifth nationally, the highest in program history. The Tartans held a 9-4 record against Division III ranked opponents and finished second in the powerful University Athletic Association after topping then ranked No. 6 Emory University in the semifinals.  The Cardinal and Gray then went on to compete in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since 2010 as they advanced to the third round. The men's appearance in the national tournament marked the sixth time in Girard's 11-year tenure and the third in Belmonte's six years.

This marks the second time that each has received the honor.  Belmonte was honored in his first year with the program in 2009 and went on to be named National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.  The following year, Girard received the accolade and also was awarded national recognition.    

The national winners will be announced Wednesday, May 21 at the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Championships, hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in Claremont, California.