HEAD COACH TOMMY ARNETT Tommy Arne� is entering his 10th year at the helm of the Tusculum College tennis program. He has guided both the men and women’s teams to the most successful period in the programs’ histories. Under his tutelage, the Pioneers have advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in seven of his nine seasons at the Greeneville, Tenn. school, while producing eight South Atlan�c Conference Championships and four SAC Tournament �tles, combined. Since his arrival at Tusculum in 2001, Arne� ’s teams have posted a combined 286-98 overall record (.745 winning percentage) including an amazing 99-21 league slate (.825 winning percentage). His men and women’s teams have accounted for nine straight winning campaigns. During the 2007-08 season, he guided the Pioneers to one of its most successful combined seasons in school history as both programs accounted for 20-win campaigns. The men’s team posted a 20-2 worksheet, including a perfect 7-0 mark in SAC play to capture the program’s third league �tle. Led by SAC Player of the Year Carlos Garcia, Tusculum ra�led off a school record 17-match winning streak, including three in a row to win the Food Lion SAC Tournament �tle and earning the league’s automa�c berth to the NCAA Tournament, the Pioneers’ sixth postseason trip in seven years. Garcia con�nued his stellar play, earning tournament MVP honors. The 2008 women’s team �ed a school season record with its 20-4 campaign, while returning to the NCAA II Tournament. The Pioneers finished second in the conference, but mustered a 12-match winning streak towards the end of the season, including three straight to win the Food Lion SAC Tournament to earn an automa�c bid to the NCAA postseason. He guided the 2009 women’s program to a 17-6 record, including a perfect 8-0 mark in SAC play as Tusculum won its fourth women’s �tle. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year and seventh �me in school history. In 2010, Arne� led the Pioneers to their fi�h women’s �tle in 2010 as TC parlayed a nine-match winning streak to a 17-4 record. In 2004, the Tusculum women’s team enjoyed a remarkable run winning its first 20 matches en route to a 20-1 mark while capturing its third straight conference crown and first SAC Tournament �tle. For his efforts, he wasnamed the South Atlan�c Conference Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. That squad included four All-Conference players, including SAC Player of the Year Lesley Murray, who earned that honor for a remarkable fourth �me in her illustrious career. Only two players in league history have been named player of the year for their respec�ve sports. She was tabbed the 2003-04 SAC Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first woman in TC history to earn this honor. Murray was also selected as the SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year for Women’s Tennis for a second �me in 2004. She was inducted to the SAC Hall of Fame in June, 2009, becoming the first Pioneer student-athlete to earn that pres�gous honor. In his first season, Arne� guided both the men and women’s teams to a pair of South Atlan�c Conference Championships, two na�onal rankings and berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Tusculum men established a school mark with an 18-2 record including a perfect 6-0 league slate to claim the Pioneers’ first SAC �tle. In 2002, the Pioneers also tallied a new school record winning 14 consecu�ve matches including the SAC Tournament �tle. TC ended the year ranked 40th in the na�on and for his efforts, Arne� was named SAC Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year. In 2005, Arne� led the men’s team to a 13-7 record, while going undefeated in conference play for the second �me in three years winning the program’s second SAC Men’s Title. Once again, Arne� was honored by his peers and named Conference Coach of the Year. The TC women went 15-4 in 2002 and won a share of its first SAC �tle. Tusculum knocked off na�onally-ranked Presbyterian College, ending the Blue Hose 56-match winning streak in league play. For a second straight year, the Tusculum women advanced to the NCAA Tournament and ended the year ranked 38th in the country. In 2003, the women’s team repeated their performance from a season before winning a share of its second SAC �tle. The Pioneer women finished 15-4 and advanced to the NCAA postseason, while moving to the second round for the first �me. TC finished the year ranked fourth in the region and 37th in the na�on. The men’s team recorded its third straight winning season going 11-8 and finished second in the SAC standings. Arne� took over the Pioneer program in June 2001, a�er serving as head coach for two seasons at South Atlan�c Conference member Newberry College. He has mentored 37 All-South Atlan�c Conference performers at Tusculum, including three Women’s Tennis SAC Freshmen of the Year, including Gabriela Mora (2002), Maria Nevarez (2003) and Danae Valderrama (2004). In 2002, Roberto Robles captured SAC Freshman of the Year honors on the men’s side. In 2005, Sergio Espinosa was named SAC Freshman of the Year.
6 - 2010-2011 Tusculum Tennis