EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Thursday that Sonia Hahn, who spent the last 19 seasons as the women's tennis co-head coach at the University of Tennessee, is the new women's tennis head coach.
 
Hahn comes to UTRGV with a career head coaching record of 314-203 (.607), including a 122-95 (.562) mark in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. She recorded six seasons of 20 or more wins throughout her tenure at Tennessee while finishing ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings in 18 of her 19 seasons.
 
Hahn led her team to 17-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1998 through 2014, including the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and the quarterfinals in 2001 and 2009. She earned Co-ITA National Coach of the Year honors in 2001 and Co-SEC Coach of the Year recognition in 2001 and 2009.
 
She also helped guide six doubles teams and five singles players to ITA All-American status.
 
"Beyond thrilled is an understatement with the hire of Sonia Hahn. We are excited that someone of Sonia's extensive professional experience and network of contacts throughout all levels of tennis wants to join the UTRGV family," UTRGV Director of Athletics Chris King said. "Sonia is a nationally known and well respected head coach that has the experience we were hoping to attract as we continue to elevate our women's tennis program and department of intercollegiate athletics. Sonia has proven herself at the highest levels of the game as both a player and a coach in her almost 20 years of head coaching experience. Her leadership skills and track record for success make her the ideal head coach to lead the women's tennis program moving forward."
 
In 2009, Hahn led Tennessee to the No. 10 ranking in the nation and an 18-7 record. She coached Caitlin Whoriskey to All-SEC First Team honors and Samantha Orlin and Natalie Pluskota to All-SEC Second Team honors.
 
In 2002, Hahn guided Tennessee to its only NCAA Tournament Semifinals appearance while finishing with the No. 12 ranking in the nation and a record of 21-10. Vilmarie Castellvi was an All-American in singles, as she reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships. Crystal Cleveland earned All-SEC First Team honors in singles.
 
In 2001, Hahn led Tennessee to a program record No. 6 national ranking while finishing 25-4. Tennessee reached the SEC Championship match for the first time in program history that year while Alison Ojeda earned All-American status and Kim Gates reached the NCAA Singles Championships.
 
"I am really excited to have the opportunity that Chris King has given me to come down and develop the program," Hahn said. "I fell in love with UTRGV when I went for my interview. I am really excited to get things going and to help this program continue moving forward."
 
Prior to her arrival at Tennessee, Hahn served as a coach at the International Tennis Academy. In 1996, she was a traveling coach as she participated in the High Performance Coaches workshop for the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
 
From 1994-96, Hahn worked as a tennis professional at the Knoxville Racquet Club, where she was in charge of providing tennis instruction to all club members. She also coached the USTA Zonal team and the USTA-Florida Challenge team in 1995 while also working at the USTA National 12s camp.
 
Hahn was a four-time single and two-time doubles All-American during a four-year playing career at Kentucky from 1986-89. She won the 1987 ITA National Indoors Singles Championship and was a member of the USTA National Team in 1987 and 1988. She earned All-SEC First Team honors during each of her first three seasons.
 
Hahn was a gold medalist at the 1987 Pan-Am Games and a bronze medal winner at the 1987 World University Games. She was ranked among the top 200 in the World Tennis Association rankings during the 1987-88 season and captured six USTA national titles.
 
Hahn graduated from Kentucky in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT SONIA HAHN

           
Vilmarie Castellvi, former Tennessee student-athlete
UTRGV is very fortunate to have Sonia as part of their staff and I can't emphasize enough to the girls on the team how lucky they are. Sonia is a great coach. She is a hard worker, kind and extremely caring. Personally, she helped me play what I feel is the best tennis in my career, encouraged me to get better every day and pushed me to be the best I could be on and off the court. I got as high as No. 1 in the country and I couldn't have achieved it without her. She was a big influence in my pro career following my college success. With her knowledge and her ability to coach, I can confidently say that she will get the team to the top. I am excited for her and for the girls. I think UTRGV will begin to watch things change with Sonia. They will achieve big things.
 
Alison Ojeda, Tennessee Women's Tennis Assistant Coach
UTRGV and Chris King have made an excellent hire! I had the privilege of playing for Sonia at the University of Tennessee from 1998-2002. During those four years we were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country and reached the NCAA Final Four. Sonia was named National Co-Head Coach of the Year and she earned every bit of that award. She was constantly finding ways to push us in a way that produced lasting results and was always someone we could depend on both on and off the court. The greatest two things she taught my teammates and I was to take care of the little details and to enjoy the journey. When you have a team who has a championship culture, you quickly find out what you are made of and who you are. Sonia is going to bring that same culture to UTRGV women's tennis!
 
Mike Patrick, Tennessee Women's Tennis Head Coach
Sonia is one of the best coaches in college tennis. Her ability to develop and mentor young women, both on and off the court, is special. She was a great player and has an ability to relay those experiences as a world-class player to those she coaches. Her experience, character and pursuit of excellence will serve UTRGV well.
 
Melissa Schaub, Ohio State Women's Tennis Head Coach
Sonia has a tremendous amount of experience coaching at the very top of college tennis. She was a National Coach of the Year and has made such an impact on countless players. As someone that played for her, knowing that I had a coach willing to go the extra mile for me, as a tennis player and as a person, meant so much. She will lay it all on the line and I have no doubt that the players will follow her lead. Sonia is going to do an excellent job leading her own program and the impact she will make will be immediate. I am excited for her and for UTRGV.
 
Sam Winterbotham, Tennessee Men's Tennis Head Coach
Wow! What a great hire! Having worked next to Sonia for the past 10 years, I have seen on a daily how good she is. Sonia was a great player and is an even better coach but most of all she is a wonderful person. Her record and qualifications are off the charts! What a great coup for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley!