Kelcy Tefft returns to the school where she played her collegiate tennis to serve as assistant coach.

Kelcy Tefft Named Women's Tennis Assistant Coach

Aug. 23, 2011

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Kelcy Tefft has been named assistant coach for the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team, it was announced by head coach Jay Louderback on Tuesday. Tefft returns to the school where she played her collegiate tennis after serving as assistant coach for two years with Tulsa.

“We are very excited to have Kelcy back at the University of Notre Dame,” said Louderback. “Her rapport with the student-athletes along with her tennis knowledge will be invaluable to our program.”

Over the course of her two-year tenure with the Golden Hurricane, Tefft helped the team compile a combined record of 48-9 including two consecutive Conference USA championships and second-round appearances in each of the ’10 and ’11 NCAA Championships.

Last season, Tulsa concluded with a 26-3 record that saw the team climb as high as 19th in the Campbell/ITA rankings. In addition, Tefft and the squad concluded the year with a 12-3 record against nationally-ranked opponents and went a perfect 6-0 against fellow C-USA opposition.

In `09, Tefft began her coaching career by helping Tulsa to a 22-6 final record, a C-USA Championship and a place in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The team posted a winning record against ranked opponents, concluding the year at 9-6 in those matchups.

Individually, Tefft has seen several Tulsa players earn conference recognition, including a record six girls being named to the all-conference team in ’10 as well as Sam Vickers being named Conference USA Freshman of the Year. In ’09, three of Tefft’s players were chosen to the all-conference team while Alexandra Kichoutkin was named the C-USA Player of the Championship in singles after leading the Golden Hurricane to the title.

Tefft enjoyed one of the most accomplished careers during her playing days at Notre Dame. She finished her career as a two-time All-America selection, two-time NCAA Singles Championship participant, two-time NCAA Doubles Championship participant, `07 ITA National Indoor doubles champion, `09 ITA National and Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year and `09 BIG EAST Player of the Year. She also was a member of the first Irish team in women’s tennis program history to reach the NCAA Semifinals in `09 and helped the squad to three BIG EAST Championships, earning BIG EAST Most Outstanding Player recognition in both her junior and senior seasons.

Tefft finished her senior season in `08-09 as a part of the No. 2-ranked doubles team in the nation with partner Kristy Frilling and as the 32nd-ranked singles player in the nation according to the ITA. As a junior, Tefft completed the season ranked No. 3 in the final ITA national doubles poll with teammate Brook Buck and was ranked No. 56 in the final national singles poll. She also was a BIG EAST All-Tournament team selection in both singles and doubles as a freshman, sophomore and junior before being named to the All-BIG EAST Team following her senior campaign.

Tefft etched her name into the Notre Dame record books before graduating, finishing with the most combined singles and doubles wins in program history with 265. She also left the program with the most doubles victories over a career with 155 and ranked fourth in singles victories with 110.

“Returning to my alma mater as a coach means a lot personally,” remarked Tefft. “What excites me the most is the amount of talent on this year’s team and being a part of the upcoming season. As a former Notre Dame player, I’ve worked within Coach Louderback’s system and will use that experience to help the team in every way possible.”

Tefft, a native of Enid, Okla., earned two bachelor’s degrees in sociology and computer applications from Notre Dame in `09.

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