May 11, 2004
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Jay Louderback has signed a contract extension to continue as head coach of the Notre Dame women’s tennis program.
Louderback is in his 15th season as head coach of the Irish women’s tennis program and 25th year overall as a head coach. He has compiled a 266-135 (.663) record at Notre Dame and a career mark of 470-313 (.600). Only four active Division I women’s tennis coaches have more collegiate victories.
Louderback has led the Irish to 11 consecutive top-30 finishes and 11 NCAA tournament berths (including 2004) in the last 12 seasons, highlighted by five trips to the round of 16 and a 1996 quarterfinal finish. Notre Dame has won 11 conference titles under Louderback, including five in nine years of competing in the BIG EAST. An eight-time conference coach of the year, Louderback’s Irish teams have never had a losing record and have won 20 or more matches five times in the last eight seasons. His current team, the BIG EAST runnerup, is ranked 29th nationally and opens play in the 2004 NCAA Championship Saturday in Evanston, Ill., against Iowa.
Irish players in the Louderback era have earned All-America honors 13 times, while earning 19 invitations to the NCAA Singles Championship and 11 to the NCAA doubles tournament. Five have been ranked among the top 10 singles players in the nation. Additionally, Louderback’s student-athletes have won four Francis Patrick O’Connor Awards (more than any other sport) and have been the recipient of the Byron V. Kanaley Award on six occasions ( the most by any sport during that span).
Louderback, a 1976 graduate of Wichita State University, previously served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1980-86 and as head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams at Iowa State from 1987-89.