NEW FLORIDA SOUTHERN WOMEN'S TENNIS COACH

[E.T.]

TRISH RIDDELL IS NEW FLORIDA SOUTHERN WOMEN'S TENNIS COACH ... Trish Riddell, the women's assistant tennis coach at Rollins College for the past six seasons, is the new women's head tennis coach at Florida Southern College. Athletic Director Lois Webb says Riddell (pronounced riddle) begins her new duties effective immediately. Riddell replaces Vicky Martin, who resigned after six seasons to take a full-time teaching position at Liberty University in ynchburg, Virginia. This is Riddell's first head coaching position.

As an assistant under head coach Bev Buckley since 2000, Riddell has helped keep the Rollins program prominent in NCAA Division II competition during her tenure. Rollins reached the Division II Tournament in each of Riddell's six seasons as an assistant and also was ranked in the top 10 each of those years in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II rankings. This past spring Rollins was 18-6, finished third in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament,

and was ranked 10th in the final ITA Division II poll.

"We know Trish is coming from a quality program at Rollins and she's been working with an outstanding coach in Bev Buckley," Webb said. "I'm confident Trish can keep our women's tennis program at a high level of success." The Lady Mocs were 16-7 this past spring and were ranked 16th in the final ITA Division II poll.

A 1993 graduate of the University of Houston, she played three seasons for the Cougars, playing at the number one singles and doubles position in 1992. Her

overall singles record was 29-32 and her overall doubles record was 25-15.

She received her master's degree in education from the University of Arkansas and served as the school's assistant women's tennis coach during that period.

Still an active tennis player, Riddell won the singles title at the National 30s Clay Court Championships in 2002 and won the doubles title at that event in 2003.

In addition to her coaching duties at Florida Southern, Riddell also will teach classes in the school's sports management program.

The hiring of Riddell fills the remaining vacancy on Florida Southern's athletics coaching staff for the 2005-06 school year. Earlier in the summer, Hugh Seyfarth was hired as the men's head soccer coach.