Aug. 28, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF Athletics Association and women's tennis head coach Stephanie Nickitas announced Tuesday that Jacopo Tezza will join the Knights this season as a graduate assistant coach. Tezza recently wrapped up a stellar four-year playing career at TCU.
"We are very excited to have Jacopo join our program," said Nickitas. "He is going to be a great asset to the team. Jacopo has a tremendous tennis background, growing up in Italy, playing in many international tournaments and then coming to the United States and playing for Texas Christian University. We are extremely happy to have him with us and help our team."
Jacopo Tezza (first name pronounced with a silent J) was ranked in the top five in the Italian juniors and even held a ranking on the ATP Tour before venturing to Texas. He was a member of Team Italy for junior tournaments in Miami, Fla., Dortmund, Germany, Geneva, Switzerland, and for the prestigious "Copa Del Sol" event in Spain.
TCU was consistently in the FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings when Tezza was a part of the Horned Frogs, including final rankings of No. 18 in 2004 and No. 31 in 2006. Tezza served as team captain from 2005-06, and was ranked as high as No. 21 as a doubles player in 2004. He helped TCU advance to the Sweet 16 in 2004.
"I am very happy and honored to become part of the UCF women's tennis team," said Tezza. "I will try to bring my experience and love for the game in this already winning program to make it even more successful. I am really excited about the upcoming season. I know the team is going through many changes with two new coaches and few new players but with hard work and dedication we will be able to achieve great results. This is a great opportunity for me and I will do my best to honor this position."
Tezza was a volunteer coach for TCU in the fall of 2006. He also helped coach tennis in the summer of 2006 at the Meadow Club in Southampton, N.Y., and was a coach at A.T. Verona in Italy for four years.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies with a minor in advertising/public relations from TCU.
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