June 30, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland landed Kyle Spencer, Baylor's assistant director of tennis and the reigning national assistant coach of the year, to lead its men's tennis program.

Spencer, who has also coached at the professional level and played in the Olympics, was hired Tuesday as Maryland's head men's tennis coach.

Spencer spent the last three seasons at Baylor, which finished among the top 10 nationally each year. The Bears also captured both the Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament titles each of those seasons.

"Coach Spencer is a terrific fit for Maryland," director of athletics Deborah A. Yow said. "He has been an integral part of a nationally-recognized program and we believe he will elevate our program to the same status over time."

Spencer and the Bears are coming off another successful season, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2009 NCAA Championship and finishing the year No. 7 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

For his efforts, Spencer was named the ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year last month.

Baylor finished eighth in the 2008 ITA rankings and fourth in 2007 when the Bears reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship. Following the 2007 season, Spencer received the ITA South Central Region Assistant Coach of The Year award.

Spencer also coached the 2008 USTA Summer Collegiate team, an elite training program for the top Americans.

His experience in the Big 12 should prepare him well for his first head-coaching job, which comes in the always competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.

"I would like to thank Debbie Yow and her staff for this fantastic opportunity," Spencer said. "I'm very excited to get the program moving forward. Not only does Maryland play in one of the top leagues in the country, but it also has a wonderful academic reputation. The facilities are first-class which should help to recruit the top talent nationally and internationally."

Spencer, who coached under three-time National Coach of the Year Matt Knoll, had a hand in grooming Baylor All-Americans Lars Poerschke and Denes Lukacs over the last three years.

He has also coached on the ATP Tour. One of his pupils, Robert Kendrick, made the second-highest yearly jump on the 2006 ATP Tour World Rankings, improving from No. 375 to 73rd in just 10 months.

Spencer also coached ATP doubles player Ashley Fisher to a world ranking of No. 24. Fisher and his partner Tripp Phillips advanced to the semifinals of the 2005 U.S. Open.

The Bears were also successful in the classroom in Spencer's stint in Waco, Texas, as Dominik Mueller earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honors last month and Michal Kokta was an Academic All-American in 2007.

Spencer played and coached at USC, where he was an Academic All-Pac-10 and All-America selection.

The Trojans made the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship twice during his four years (1995-98) on the court. Spencer earned All-America honors after reaching the finals of the 1997 NCAA Doubles Championship.

After graduating from USC, Spencer had a successful career on the ATP Tour. He won seven pro titles and reached as high as No. 126 in doubles on the ATP Tour.

Spencer also represented his native Great Britain in doubles with partner Barry Cowan at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Upon retiring from the ATP Tour, Spencer became a Trojans assistant coach for two years (2004-05). The Trojans reached the semifinals of the 2004 NCAA Championship.

Spencer is scheduled to begin his duties in College Park on July 1.

"I can't wait to get started," Spencer said. "My wife, Kacie, and I are thrilled to be moving to such a diverse and vibrant area."