The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
JULY 2017 ■ 31 TRACKING THE PACK wolfpacker spotlight KYLE SPENCER Coach • Men's Tennis After Jon Choboy stepped down May 13 following 15 years leading the Wolfpack men's tennis program, a national search began to find his successor. It may not have been necessary since the end result was director of athletics Debbie Yow hiring former Olympian Kyle Spencer for the second time in her career. She originally tabbed Spencer to lead the program at Maryland prior to the 2009 campaign, but the school cut the sport for budget reasons following the 2012 season. That led to Spencer becoming one of the more overqualified assistants in the country at Southern Methodist University. The former USC All-American enjoyed a strong playing ca - reer, reaching the national championship match in doubles at the NCAA Championships, and then going on to represent Great Britain in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and winning seven professional titles on the ATP Tour. He then embarked on a fruitful coaching career, start- ing as an assistant at USC in 2003. He helped the Trojans reach the national semifinals in 2004 and then moved to Baylor from 2006-09, where he helped the Bears earn three straight Big 12 titles, two national quarterfinals appear- ances and national semifinal showing. He was recognized as the ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year in his final campaign there before taking the head job at Maryland, an ACC member at the time. Despite inheriting a program without much tradition and competing in one of the sport's toughest conferences, he built the Terrapins up quickly. The school reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2010-11 and then Spencer was voted the 2012 Wilson/ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. His teams also succeeded off the court — his 2011 and 2012 squads won the President's Cup for the Maryland team with the highest GPA. At SMU, he helped the Mustangs reached the last two NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2016. "This is a transformational hire for NC State," Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said. "Kyle played for legendary coach Dick Leach at USC, worked as an assistant for national championship coaches at USC and Baylor, and led his Maryland team to the first NCAA Tour - nament victory in school history. He played at Wimbledon and in the Olympic Games. "While his tennis résumé stacks up against anyone, it's his commitment to the student- athlete and focus on family that stand apart. I congratulate NC State on a fabulous choice. The players and the community of Raleigh will benefit for years to come." — Ryan Tice/ Photo courtesy Maryland