July 5, 2006
ORLANDO - UCF men's tennis head coach Bobby Cashman announced on Wednesday that Brandon Stokes has joined the Golden Knights' program as an assistant coach. Stokes spent the 2006 season as an assistant at Wofford and brings 11 years of tennis teaching and coaching experience to UCF.
At Wofford, Stokes worked with both the Terriers men's and women's programs this past season. The men's squad set a school record for wins and a pair of players earned All-Southern Conference honors. The women's team won six matches in league play in 2006.
"Brandon is a great addition to our program. He has some great coaching experience and will help in the development of our players," said Cashman. "In addition to being a very good teacher of the game, Brandon is detailed and organized and knows what it takes to have a successful program."
Before moving to Wofford, Stokes spent a year as an assistant coach at North Alabama, where he worked with the Lions men's and women's teams. While at North Alabama, he assisted in recruiting, player development and strength and conditioning.
From 2000-04, Stokes served as an independent tennis coach in Atlanta, Ga., specializing in junior development. He was also an associate coach at the ACE Tennis Academy in Atlanta.
"I am excited about the great opportunity to join the staff at UCF. I admire the direction that coach Cashman has the Golden Knights' tennis program headed," said Stokes. "We agree that now is the time for the program to assert itself as a leader in Conference USA and reassert itself on the national scene."
Stokes earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Toldeo in 1994. A two-year letterwinner with the Rockets, he was named to the Dean's List three times, garnered Mid-American Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention honors and was named the Downtown Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete in 1992.
He began his coaching career as the assistant girls' coach at Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School in New Philadelphia, Ohio in the fall of 1992.
In 2006, the Golden Knights finished their first season in C-USA with an 11-10 mark. The squad went 3-1 against league teams and earned the fifth seed at the conference championship.