WHAT'S NEXT?
WOMEN'S TENNIS
BY PATRICK HERB
New direction: Samara
has 'vision for program'
UW coach has history of success in Madison
S
ome of Tina Samara's
greatest triumphs have
happened in Madison, Wis.
After winning a pair of national championships in the
capital city as a collegiate
athlete at Georgia, Samara
hopes for more success in
Madison.
This time on the coaching
side.
Samara was named the
seventh head coach in Wisconsin women's tennis history this week and is charged
with leading the program
back to prominence.
"I am beyond excited to
join the Badger family," Samara said. "Madison has always held a special place in
my heart from my playing
@BadgerWTennis
days at UGA. I want to thank Coach
Alvarez and his entire staff for believing in me.
"The combination of Wisconsin's
academic reputation and strong athletic department makes this a very
desirable job. The support structure
for women's tennis is in place to have
success. As a coach, this is a dream
come true."
Samara joins the Badgers after
coaching stops as an assistant at Colorado (2007-08) and head coaching
assignments at Louisiana-Lafayette
(2009-10) and most recently West
Virginia (2011-13).
"I was impressed with her background and her intensity," UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said
of hiring Samara.
"I like the fact that she's developed
her own program. She has a vision
and ideas to move this program forward."
In addition to coaching experience at three different stops, Samara
brings an accomplished playing career with her to the head post of the
Badgers' program.
Samara, who spent five seasons
playing and coaching on the USTA/
WTA/LTA Pro tour, was a two-time
All-American at UGA.
Samara's Bulldogs won the USTA/
ITA National Indoor title in 1994 and
1995, with both competitions held at
Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Now, as she returns to Madison,
Samara is hoping to rekindle the
memories of that success and restore
a Wisconsin program hungry to compete again.
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