Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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AUGUST 2017 ◆ 7 CAVALIER SPORTS On June 12, Sara O'Leary was named the head coach of the UVA women's tennis program. The North Carolina graduate, who was part of the school's first doubles tandem to capture a national champion- ship, spent the past three years as the head coach at Davidson, where she posted a 45-21 record. Cavalier Corner: When did you know that coaching was going to be your life, and who helped you get there? O'Leary: "I knew I wanted to get into coaching my senior year of college. I had an incredible experience learning from Brian Kalbas, my college coach at North Carolina who helped me accomplish my goals. "He believed in me and made the entire experience so fun! I decided then that I wanted to help other young women accomplish their goals and realized I could have that opportunity through collegiate coaching." Cavalier Corner: How, when and why did Virginia catch your eye as a possible destination? O'Leary: "It's UVA!! I have always had a ton of respect for the school and the tennis program. The Grounds, the academics and the com- munity were all extremely attractive to me. "To be able to work alongside [director of tennis] Andres Pedroso and the men's team, which have experienced so much success, was the cherry on top. Coaching at UVA is truly a dream come true!" Cavalier Corner: Did your success on the court tempt you to give the pro tour a try? O'Leary: "I thought about it for sure, and my doubles partner did play on tour for a while. Unfortunately, I graduated with a few injuries and was not able to continue playing at that level." Cavalier Corner: What are your personal and professional expecta- tions at UVA? O'Leary: "Personally, I look forward to living in Charlottesville and experiencing a new chapter in a great place with my husband Tom O'Leary. The community has been so welcoming, and we look forward to meeting so many more people as we make this move. We also love athletics and cannot wait to attend other sporting events at UVA. "Professionally, I expect to learn a lot and grow as a coach. I cannot wait to sit down with some of the other coaches at UVA to learn about their experiences and what has helped them earn their success. "I expect to use the experience I have gained at Princeton, UNC and Davidson, learn as much as I can at UVA and apply it to the program. I expect to work hard, focus on what I can control and enjoy the pro- cess." Cavalier Corner: What will you and assistant Gina Suarez-Malaguti put in play to ensure success? O'Leary: "It will be important for us to create a positive, hard- working, trustful and family based atmosphere for the team. Our focus needs to be on what we can control and making it our goal to get better every single day. "It will be important to provide a clear vision as to what we are trying to accomplish, and a disciplined and consistent approach for the team." — Jerry Reid O'Leary served as the head coach at Davidson the past three years and guided the Wildcats to a 45-21 record. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA FIVE QUESTIONS WOMEN'S TENNIS HEAD COACH SARA O'LEARY