NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame’s Callaghan Family Head Men’s Tennis Coach, Ryan Sachire, announced the addition of Sam Kercheval to the coaching staff Monday afternoon. He will serve as the team’s volunteer assistant coach for the coming season.
Kercheval previously spent three years as the head coach at Eastern Illinois University where he led the team to its highest conference finish since 2014. He coached the Panthers to OVC Tournament appearances in 2016 and 2018 (men) while leading the women to the OVC Tournament semifinals in 2018.
During is time at EIU, Kercheval saw two earn Academic All-American honors, two All-OVC selections and two other OVC honors, including first and second team in 2018.
Prior to his time in Charleston, Illinois, he served as the volunteer men’s tennis coach for a year at Indiana University.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Sam to join our program,” head coach Sachire said. “In getting to know him over the past few years, Sam has consistently demonstrated a unique passion for coaching the sport of tennis and developing players. Sam will assist in all aspects of our program, and I expect him to make a significant contribution in all that we do as we continue to build Notre Dame Tennis towards a national championship.”
He is a USPTA Certified Elite Professional, earned USPTA honors for Midwest Under 30 Professional of the Year in 2014 and was named USPTA Indiana Professional of the Year in 2012.
Other tennis coaching experience includes four years as Bloomington High School South’s girls’ tennis coach and tennis instructor for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.–ND–
Katherine Harvath is currently an athletics communications assistant with Fighting Irish Media. She oversees Notre Dame cross country/track & field, swimming and diving and men’s tennis. She is a 2018 graduate of Bowling Green State University, where she studied sport management.