Louisiana-Lafayette Hires McGrath to Lead Tennis Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 1, 2002

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE HIRES McGRATH TO LEAD TENNIS PROGRAM

LAFAYETTE – The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Director of Athletics Nelson Schexnayder announced Thursday at an afternoon press conference that former University of Arkansas assistant coach Justin McGrath has been hired to lead the Ragin' Cajuns men's and women's tennis programs.

McGrath replaces Brett Schwartz who resigned in January. His hiring is pending the approval of the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees.

McGrath was an assistant at Arkansas from 1999-2002, becoming the Razorbacks first full-time assistant in school history. While with UA, McGrath contributed to the biggest turn-around in Razorbacks Tennis in 10 years. He helped revitalize the program from being unranked to finishing 25th in the nation with a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 2002 season.

He also conducted practices, assisted with travel arrangements and traveled with the team and individual team members. McGrath played a key role in UA's ongoing recruiting efforts. He is also credited with working to promote Razorbacks Tennis to the community and building a broad base of enthusiasm and support for the program.

Before his stint at UA, he was an academy coach at John Newcombe's Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, Texas from 1995 until his hiring at UA.

There he coached several nationally and internationally ranked players at on of the nation's top residential tennis academies and had the opportunity to travel with players to United States Tennis Association National tournaments, including the Easter and Orange Bowls.

His path to Newcombe's Tennis Academy began with an internship at the Julian Krinskey School of Tennis in Philadelphia where he worked with junior players as an assistant professional.

In 1992, he moved to Tyler, Texas. He graduated from Tyler Junior College with a certificate of proficiency in the tennis technical program in 1993.

McGrath was also a staff professional at the Abilene (Texas) Country until becoming the head professional at Abilene's Fairway Oaks Country Club in April 1994. He created and implemented programs and activities, which helped to boost tennis participation by 20 percent at Fairway.

McGrath is certainly no stranger to the game. The Rapid City, S.D., native moved to southern California to compete in men's singles competition. While on the junior circuit, he was ranked 27th in the southern California 18-year-old divison. McGrath would later move into the Men's Open Singles in 1989 where he ranked 32nd in the region while playing on the professional tour.

McGrath is a certified instructor and member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and the United States Tennis Association.

He received a bachelor's of science in education/recreation sports programming from UA this summer. He is married to the former Kimberly Braun.

-Ragin' Cajuns-

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Louisiana-Lafayette Hires McGrath to Lead Tennis Program

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