Bio

Andrew Girard's 21 years as head coach of the women's tennis program at Carnegie Mellon University has been nothing short of superior. From the beginning, Girard has built the program into a national power as 18 of the past 19 seasons (not including the canceled season of 2019-20) have seen the team reach the NCAA postseason, with the past 20 teams earning a national ranking in the top 20. Eleven of the past 17 seasons the team has finished in the top 10 in the country, with the 2019 team earning the seventh spot in the rankings following a quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA Championship and the 2020 team finishing fifth in the shortened season.

The 2024 team hosted the first, second, and third rounds of the NCAA Championship for the second straight season, advancing to the third round for the 15th time in program history. Individually, senior Danna Taylor won the ITA Southeast Region Singles Championship for the third time and advanced to the ITA Cup in singles and doubles play, pairing with sophomore Anna Chow, after the duo reached the finals of the ITA Southeast Region Doubles Championship. Sophomore Divya Venkatarama also played in the ITA Cup after placing second to Taylor in the regional singles championship. Three Tartans were invited to the NCAA Singles Championship with Taylor and Venkatarama competing.

Major Team Highlights

• 2009 ITA Division III National Team Indoor Champions
• Five consecutive second-place finishes (2012 through 2016) at ITA National Team Indoor Championships
• Years in national rankings: 20
• Highest national ranking: 5th (2012, 2020)
• NCAA Tournament appearances: 18 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Major Player Highlights

• 23 athletes have earned 65 All-America honors
• At least one athlete has been named an All-American in the past 20 seasons
• Four ITA National Awards received by four athletes
• 2006 ITA National Singles Champion – Amy Staloch
• 10 ITA Southeast Regional Singles Champions and the past five straight
• Eleven ITA Southeast Regional Doubles Champions and five straight (2017-2022)
• At least one player invited to the NCAA Singles Championship in 18 of 20 playing seasons
• One doubles pair invited to the NCAA Doubles Championships in 14 of 19 playing seasons
• 3-time ITA Atlantic South Coach of the Year (2017, 2012, 2008)

Men’s Team Coach 2004-Fall 2017

• Career record: 218-144
• 2010 ITA National Coach of the Year
• 3-time ITA Atlantic South Coach of the Year (2016, 2014, 2010)
• Seven NCAA appearances – quarterfinals in 2010
• Five ITA National Team Indoor Championship appearances
• 10 athletes earned 20 All-America honors
• 2013 ITA National Singles Champion – Abhishek Alla

Coaching History

• One-year women’s assistant coach at Northern Michigan University
• Junior tennis program lead for 12 summers in Marquette, Michigan
• Volunteer coach for six years at Marquette Senior High School

Playing Career

• Michigan Technological University – 1998-2001
• Three-time All-Conference Honoree
• Team MVP in 1999-00 season
• Among top 10 in all-time singles and doubles wins

Girard places tremendous value on academic success, and fittingly the teams have earned numerous academic honors over the last 21 seasons. The Carnegie Mellon teams have been named an ITA All-Academic Team 32 times (12 men, 20 women) and have had players named ITA Scholar-Athletes 206 times (125 women, 81 men).