Franek
The women’s tennis team welcomed a new addition to its coaching staff last month when head coach Tim Gray hired Christine Franek as assistant coach.
“I’m ready to go,” Franek said Monday. “Tim and I are both passionate about the sport, and an upcoming season is always very exciting.”
Franek coached at Wellesley College in Massachusetts for seven seasons prior to coming to the Plains.
During her coaching tenure there, she compiled a 119-38 record and helped the team qualify for the Division III National Championship for the fifth straight year last season.
Franek played college tennis at Brown University from 1988-1992, serving as captain and leading the team to an Ivy League Championship in 1991.
“She was a great player in her own right,” said Gray, who is entering his fourth season at Auburn.
“But I think we make a great team together, in both recruiting and coaching. She’s more than qualified.”
Gray and Franek met about a year ago through various coaching circles. When former assistant coach Ashley Bentley got into medical school at UAB, Gray approached Franek about the position.
So far, Franek has adapted well to Auburn life.
“It’s a different atmosphere, because Auburn is a large Division I school, and Wellesley is a small Division III liberal arts school,” Franek said. “But in terms of coaching, it’s very similar. I’m working with athletes who love their sport.
The new assistant hasn’t had a chance to work with the full team yet, because many of the players are out of town for the summer. However, she has already started to recruit — she visited the National Open Tournament in Montgomery right after she was hired and plans to travel to California soon for a National Hard Court Tournament.
Gray said the team had a “great year” after making the NCAA tournament and finishing the year ranked 28th in the country.
The team also had a conference-high three All-Americans in Fani Chifchieva, Alex Haney and Melissa Koning.
Only one player, Gaby Beelan, will be absent from last year’s roster, and Gray said he hopes newcomer Daniella Vuckodinovic will make an impact in her freshman season.
“The team is progressing, and we’re getting better every year,” Gray said.
The Tigers begin the fall season Sept. 19 at the Stoney Brook Invitational Tournament in Long Island, N.Y.
