Virginia Commonwealth’s appearance in the 2000 NCAA Tennis Championship Finals was the first time a VCU sports team had ever played for a national title.
Fernando Sanchez, who replaced Mait DuBois as women’s tennis assistant coach, wasn’t coaching the 2000 NCAA Championship. He was playing in it. Although the team lost, Sanchez cherishes the memory.
“Going to VCU, the experience was great. The coaching was great to me, and the team was one of the top 20 in the nation,” Sanchez said. “We lost to Stanford 4-0 [in the NCAA finals], but it was a little closer than it looked.”
As a player at VCU, Sanchez earned Rookie of the Year honors, first team All-CAA Singles and Doubles, and he helped his team win three consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Championships. Sanchez went on to become an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at VCU, both of which were ranked nationally and won conference championships.
Sanchez most recently coached at the University of Washington. DuBois was hired as the head men’s tennis coach at UNC-Wilmington, which opened up the State position for Sanchez.
Hans Olsen, the women’s tennis coach, said Sanchez’s coaching and playing experience should greatly contribute to the team. Although he does know great coaches without playing experience, he said with the style State is going for, having the whole coaching staff as previous players works well.
“Some things really help in terms of being a player’s coach,” he said. “You can understand what the players are going through, the things that are going to work in different situations and how it feels to play under pressure. Having that experience does make a difference.”
Sophomore Kristen Bleakley said she agreed it’s a big advantage for the team.
“It’s really important that the coaches have playing experience,” Bleakley said. “They are very intelligent about tennis and can relate to us more.”
Olsen said it is too early to determine how the team will work with Sanchez, but he said Sanchez will be a very good match. Olsen and Bleakley both referred to Sanchez’s engaging personality and positive approach to everything.
Olsen added Sanchez was enthusiastic about team tennis, which is the approach they are trying to develop.
Sanchez said he’s very excited and eager to coach with Olsen and plans to gain a lot of experience from working with him.
“N.C. State gives the women’s tennis program the opportunity to be successful and be able to be one of the top teams in the nation,” Sanchez said. “Olsen is bringing the program from pretty much nothing to a nationally ranked team. I’m going to try to do my best to help develop the team as best as I can.”
