Marshall University Athletics
Marshall's Laurie Mercer Named ITA East Region Assistant Coach of the Year
5/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Marshall's Laurie Mercer Named ITA East Region Assistant Coach of the Year
5/19/2004
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ? Marshall University assistant tennis coach Laurie Mercer has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association East Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Mercer is one of only eight regional winners that are now in the running for the national award that will be announced by the ITA on May 23.
?It is always nice to be recognized by your peers and I am truly humbled by this honor,? Mercer said. ?The credit has to go to our players, without their dedication, hard work, and talent this would not be possible.?
This marks the second time that a Marshall assistant coach has won regional assistant of the year honors from the ITA. Laurie Mercer?s husband, Marshall tennis head coach John Mercer, won the same honor as his wife?s assistant coach at Marshall in 2001.
Mercer, helped the Thundering Herd to a record-setting 22-5 overall record in 2004 that ended with Marshall?s third consecutive MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. During the season, Marshall attained its highest ITA national ranking (46th), its highest singles ranking (Jessica Johnson, 61st), and its highest doubles team ranking in school history (Johnson and Ashley Kroh, 8th).
Mercer spent nine seasons as Marshall?s head coach, before moving to assistant coach last year. During her tenure as head coach she built Marshall?s program into a respected program on the national scene. She led Marshall to an overall record of 142-74.
