(Story courtesy of the Trinity University website)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Trinity University
Director of Athletics Bob King has announced Russell McMindes, the
Tigers men’s tennis coach, will assume additional duties as
interim head coach of the women’s team.
Coach McMindes takes over the helm of the women’s team from
Ryan Takao, who resigned after three seasons as head coach. Jacob
McMindes, who has been a part-time men’s assistant coach,
will also serve as the full-time assistant for the women’s
squad.
The appointments were the recommendations of Trinity’s
Director of Tennis Butch Newman.
“I am extremely excited about Russell providing the same
leadership and success he has had going for the men’s team,
and transitioning it to the women’s team,” said Coach
Newman, a longtime Trinity coach who led both Tiger teams to the
NCAA Division III Championships in 2000. “ At the same time,
it keeps the McMindes brothers tandem intact. Their leadership,
high-minded values, enthusiasm, and energy will be a huge plus for
the women’s team.”
Coach McMindes has been the men’s coach for two seasons,
leading the Tigers to the NCAA Division III Tournament both years.
Trinity advanced to the national quarterfinals, after capturing the
regional tournaments. The Tigers also won their second consecutive
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship.
“We will translate a lot of what we provide the men in
structure, workouts, and energy to the women’s
team,”said Coach McMindes, who was elected SCAC Men’s
Tennis Coach of the Year for the second straight time. "We have a
young group of players we are excited about. If you are organized
and have a plan, you can instill something which can be done in a
successful manner.”
Coach McMindes also coached recent graduates Cory Kowal and Bobby
Cocanougher to the 2010 NCAA Doubles Championship match. The Tiger
duo won the National Small College Championships Division III
Doubles title in October. Last May, Max Frey advanced to the NCAA
Singles semifinals, becoming the first Tiger player to achieve that
feat since 2006.
Coach McMindes spent seven seasons as the Tiger men's assistant
coach, prior to taking over the reins in the fall of 2009. He was
named the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association West Region Men's
Tennis Assistant of the Year.
As a player, Coach McMindes was a three-year letter winner for the
Tigers, and was a member of Trinity's 2000 NCAA Division III
national championship team. Coach McMindes earned All-SCAC honors
for three years. Before joining the Trinity program, Coach McMindes
played for one season for Oklahoma Christian University, and became
a Tiger his sophomore year.
Coach McMindes earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity in
engineering science in 2002, with a concentration in chemical
engineering. A resident of San Antonio, he was the Clemens High
School valedictorian in 1997.
Jacob McMindes was named the 2011 ITA Division III West Region
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, the same honor his brother
received. Coach McMindes graduated from San Antonio's University of
the Incarnate Word in May 2009. He played four years for the
successful Cardinal program, which competes in the NCAA Division
II. Coach McMindes was named to the Heartland Conference First
Team, and was second-team all-region in doubles.
Trinity’s women’s team captured third place, for the
last two years, at the SCAC Championships, and reached the team
final in 2009. The Tiger women have also been represented at the
NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships.