COLLEGE STATION, Texas —Jordan Szabo, a former four-year letterwinner on the Texas A&M men’s tennis team, has been hired as an assistant coach for the Aggie women’s tennis team.
“I am extremely delighted to announce that Jordan Szabo will be joining our staff as assistant coach for our women’s tennis team,” women’s head coach Mark Weaver said. “Texas A&M is a very special place to both Jordan and myself, having both graduated, competed as a student-athlete and now coaching together for our school that we love so much. Jordan’s drive and work ethic are at the highest of levels, and he is exactly what we need in order for us to continue reaching the demanding goals that we set forth each and every year.”
Following his graduation from Texas A&M in 2016 with a degree in sports management, Szabo spent last season as the assistant coach for the Texas Tech men’s tennis program.
“I would like to thank Justin Moore (Texas A&M senior associate athletics director) and Mark Weaver for this opportunity to come back to Texas A&M,” Szabo said. “I’m truly excited to be working for and learning from a great coach and even better person in Mark Weaver. I had a wonderful and successful time as a student-athlete at Texas A&M, and it’s a dream come true to coach at your alma mater. It just means more. I can’t wait to help the girls reach their goals on and off the court and play a role in giving them the ultimate student athlete experience that Texas A&M provides. Lastly, I would like to thank Brett Masi at Texas Tech and all the players there for the opportunity to learn and grown in my time with them.”
Szabo, 26, helped direct Texas Tech to the finals of the 2017 Big 12 Tournament as the Red Raiders knocked off both No. 6 Baylor and No. 8 Oklahoma State before falling to No. 4 TCU. The loss to the Horned Frogs ended the Red Raiders’ three-match win streak, which also included a 4-3 victory over then-No. 4 Baylor in the regular season finale.
Szabo also helped coach Jolan Callieau, who became only the fourth player in Texas Tech history to earn All-America honors after reaching the round of 16 at the NCAA Singles Championship and receiving a No. 20 final ranking.
The Red Raiders’ doubles team of Bjorn Thomson and Connor Curry competed in the NCAA Doubles Championship and was No. 18 in the final doubles rankings.
While a student-athlete at Texas A&M, Szabo was a part of 82 dual match victories from 2012-15. The Aggies secured four NCAA Tournament trips during his career, highlighted by an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2015 and a NCAA Sweet 16 berth in 2013. A&M also captured the 2015 Southeastern Conference regular season championship in addition to the 2014 and 2015 SEC Tournament titles and 2013 SEC Western Division crown.
Szabo picked up 73 doubles victories fueled by a trio of 20-win seasons and highlighted by a final No. 56 doubles ranking with Jeremy Efferding in 2015. The pair qualified for the 2015 NCAA Doubles championships. Szabo and Efferding also garnered a No. 85 final doubles ranking in 2014.
Szabo also tallied 56 singles wins for the Aggies. He earned 2014 SEC All-Tournament Team honors after he clinched the deciding points from the No. 6 singles position against South Carolina during the quarterfinal round and Florida in the championship match.
Szabo, 26, served as a student assistant coach for the Aggies in 2016. Texas A&M picked up 27 wins before dropping a 4-3 decision to Texas in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
Szabo is a native of Baywater, Victoria, Australia. He won two rounds at the 2009 Junior Australian Open and held an ITF ranking of 162.
Weaver and Szabo expect to welcome back four letterwinners from last year’s Aggie women’s team that was No. 16 in the final rankings after advancing to the NCAA Championship round of 16 and finished 18-13. The coaches also will welcome the program’s all-time high No. 7-ranked recruiting class in the nation.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women’s tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women’s tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Aggie-Womens-Tennis/143874782434654
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics