It seems only fitting that the coach of the nation's top women's tennis doubles team should win some awards of her own.
Earlier this week, Kate Bayard, currently in her fifth year as head coach, was selected as the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) 2009 New England College Coach of the Year, presented annually to the best coach in the region.
The award came months after junior tri−captain Julia Browne and senior tri−captain Meghan McCooey won their second−straight Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Small College Doubles Championship in October, putting a stamp on the success Bayard has enjoyed in recent years.
The Tufts program has been ranked among the top in the nation for the last three years, ultimately reaching the No. 10 slot in the ITA rankings this fall. In addition, Tufts has reached the NCAA team regional finals in two out of the past three years, no small feat in the highly competitive Northeast Region.
In four seasons, Bayard is 46−29 overall in dual meets through this past fall and is no stranger to these types of awards. Following the 2009 spring season, Bayard was named the ITA Northeast Coach of the Year and the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
