Feb. 3, 2010
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
The 58th-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team opens its 2010 home schedule this weekend. Iowa, 1-1 overall, will face Memphis Friday at 2 p.m. The Black and Gold will also host Northern Illinois Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Admission is free.
SCOUTING THE SQUADS
Memphis is 1-2 overall. They are coached by Paul Goebel. He is in his sixth season as the Tiger’s head coach. Northern Illinois is 1-4 overall. They fell at Big Ten foe Michigan State last weekend, 7-0. The Huskies will play at Drake Saturday before traveling to Iowa City.
THE SERIES
Iowa is 1-1 all-time against Memphis and 30-5 against Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes defeated the Huskies in Iowa City last season, 6-1.
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa opened the 2010 season last weekend in Waco, TX, in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Tournament. The Hawkeyes lost to host school and sixth-ranked Baylor Sunday, 7-0. The Black and Gold rebounded Monday, defeating No. 66 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 4-2. Freshman Garret Dunn saw his first dual match action and junior Austen Kauss recorded his first dual singles victory Monday at the No. 6 position.
2009 RECAP
Iowa finished 12-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play in 2009. Nationally ranked Big Ten singles champion Christian Bierich was named all-Big Ten. It marked the second-straight season a Hawkeye garnered all-Big Ten honors.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked No. 58 in the current ITA team rankings. Nine of the 11 Big Ten schools are nationally ranked. In the central region, the doubles duo of senior Tommy McGeorge and sophomore Will Vasos are ranked ninth. The pair finished 17-3 in dual play in 2009. The rankings can be found at itatennis.com.
HEAD COACH Steve Houghton
Steve Houghton, the dean of Big Ten coaches, is in his 29th year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. He has compiled a career record of 311-319 (.494), recording the most wins of any coach in Iowa men’s tennis history. Houghton recorded his 300th win at Indiana State Feb. 6, 2009. His best season came in 1984 when Iowa won a school record 21 matches and two Hawkeyes earned all-Big Ten honors. In 1989, Houghton was named NCAA Region IV Coach of the Year and picked up his 100th career dual win. Four of Houghton’s athletes have also been selected Big Ten Sportsman of the Year. He became the winningest coach in Iowa tennis history in 1992 and is a member of the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame. While playing at Iowa, Houghton had a career winning percentage of .727 (40-15), second best in Iowa history.