July 15, 2005

DAYTON, OH - Local tennis standout Erica Echko was named head coach for the University of Dayton women's tennis program Friday. The Centerville native and Miami University graduate was most recently an assistant coach at the University of Akron.

"I'm happy to be back home, and eager to get started at the University of Dayton," Eckho said. "This is a great opportunity for me; UD is a great school and I look forward to helping this team reach its fullest potential and level of competitiveness within the Atlantic 10 conference."

Echko has served as a tennis professional at a variety of country clubs in the Miami Valley, and also was the Assistant Tennis Professional at Stan Smith-Billy Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

She originally played tennis at the University of South Carolina-Akien (Division II), posting a 19-7 record in singles and was ranked regionally in doubles her freshman year before transferring to Miami. At MU, she had a 62-26 singles record, and a 51-36 record as part of a doubles tandem. In 2001, she won the Mid-American Conference Fall Invitational Singles Title, and Echko finished first in the 2000 Spartan Cup Singles Title.

Prior to college, she was a part of the two-time state champion tennis team at Centerville High School, as CHS took home the state title in 1995 and 1997. Also in 1997, Echko and her doubles' pair finished as the runner up in the state individual championship.

Echko takes over for interim coach Dawn Mamula, who guided UD to a 10-4 record following the resignation of Mike Unger on February 25.

"I'm thrilled to turn the program over to someone with such proven success," Mamula said. "Erica will bring not only competitive experience but youthful energy and passion to the women's tennis program here at UD."

The team finished 14-8 in spring play, coming in sixth in the Atlantic 10 Championship. Dayton native Erin Kirkland was named All-Atlantic 10, Academic All-Conference and Academic All-District in her senior campaign.