TEMPE, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is excited to announce that Lauren Conching is the new ITA Director of Coach Education. Conching spent the past 12 years as the head women’s tennis coach at Hawaii Pacific University. As a two-time ITA National Coach of the Year and former ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year, Conching brings more than 15 years of coaching experience to the ITA as well as insight into the administrative side of collegiate athletics, having served as the Assistant Athletics Director at Hawaii Pacific for the last seven years.
“Having known Lauren throughout my eight-year tenure at the ITA, including her thoughtful contributions as a member of the ITA Board of Directors and Executive Committee,” commented the Association’s CEO, Dr. Timothy Russell, “I am confident that she will continue to expand the comprehensive coach education offerings of the ITA’s Center for Coach Education, as we develop this important area of service to ITA members.”
“Lauren Conching’s exceptional background as a collegiate head tennis coach and athletic administrator uniquely positions her to establish profound connections with coaches at various levels,” proclaimed ITA COO, Dave Mullins. “Her comprehensive expertise will enable her to develop the necessary programs to address the challenges faced by college tennis coaches. Collaborating closely with Lauren, I anticipate further building upon the remarkable progress achieved by Danielle McNamara in recent years, setting the stage for an even brighter future.”
As head coach at HPU, Conching compiled a career record of 202-81 and led the Sharks to at least the NCAA Quarterfinals in all but one year of her head coaching career. The Sharks were PacWest Tournament Champions three of the past five years.
Prior to becoming a coach, Conching played at Collin County College where she was the NJCAA Doubles Champion in 2001 before transferring to Stony Brook to finish her career. Upon graduation, Conching worked at CBS Sports in New York before returning to college tennis as an assistant coach at Hawaii Pacific.
“I want to thank Tim Russell and Dave Mullins for providing me with this opportunity,” stated Conching. “Stepping away from college coaching was not an easy decision and I am so grateful to continue working in an industry that I love. I’m looking forward to the new challenge and am excited to continue the great work that Danielle McNamara has done over the last year and a half.”
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the Spring 2023 college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
