Feb. 22, 2010
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- 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 55th-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team travels to rival Drake Wednesday. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. In addition, the Hawkeyes will host DePaul Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Admission is free.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Drake is 2-3 on the season, with all three losses coming against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs are led by first-year Head Coach Jimmy Borendame. DePaul is 5-6 overall. The Blue Demons are coached by Matt Brothers. He is in his third season at the helm of the program.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
Brothers was an assistant coach for five years at Iowa before taking over at DePaul. Hawkeye assistant Steve Nash was an all-conference performer and team captain at Drake.
THE SERIES
The Hawkeyes are 24-8 all-time against Drake and 8-1 against DePaul. Iowa defeated both Drake (5-2) and DePaul (6-1) last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa won at Western Michigan Sunday, 4-3. The victory marked the fourth-straight win for the Black and Gold. Sophomores Marc Bruche and Will Vasos led the Hawkeyes as both were victorious in singles and doubles.
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. 55 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 is 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 314-319 (.496), 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.