Longwood University director of athletics Troy Austin has tabbed Pierre Tafelski as head coach of the Lancer men’s tennis program. The 2013-14 ITA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year and a former Division I student-athlete, Tafelski was formerly an assistant coach at Division II tennis powerhouse Hawaii Pacific University.
At Hawaii Pacific, Tafelski helped guide the men’s and women’s tennis programs to top-10 Division II rankings. The men finished the 2014 season with a 23-1 record with the lone loss coming against top-ranked West Florida in the Division II Championship match. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Pacific women compiled a 41-10 record in Tafelski’s two seasons with the program.
“We’re excited to welcome a coach as talented and driven as Pierre to our department family,” Austin said. “His desire to lead our men’s tennis program has been evident from the start. To have such success so Pierre has had some success early in his coaching career is, and I’m looking forward to watching this program the men’s tennis grow under his leadership.”
In addition to his duties as assistant coach for the Sharks, Tafelski served as an adjunct instructor in physical education. He also held a stint as an assistant professional at The Oahu Club in Hawaii Kai, Hawaii.
“I am honored to join the Longwood family and be part of a growing university,” Tafelski said. “Longwood has a beautiful campus with great academic success, which will help attracting talented student athletes. I look forward to working with the athletic department and the Longwood community to become one of the leaders in the Big South Conference.”
Tafelski’s collegiate career began at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas before he moved up to the Division I ranks at Mercer University. At Ouachita Baptist, Tafelski led his squad to a No. 3 ranking in Division II, while earning a No. 40 national ranking and all-conference honors in singles play.
At Mercer, Tafelski stepped into the top spot of the singles lineup as a junior and was named first team All-Atlantic Sun as a senior in 2012. In addition, Tafelski served as a captain of the Bears in his time in Macon, Ga.
A 2012 graduate of Mercer, Tafelski earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management. He went on to obtain his masters in business administration from Hawaii Pacific University in 2014.
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