MSU's Guichard, Metz Garner ITA Regional Coaching Honors
Guichard was named the Wilson/ITA Southeast Region Co-Coach of the Year Monday, sharing the award with his former coach and mentor, Florida's Andy Jackson. The two were also named 2005 Southeastern Conference Co-Coaches ofthe Year together. Guichard, who played at MSU in 1992 and '93, and assisted Jackson from 1996-2001, took over the program in '01 when Jackson departed to guide the Gators.
Metz, who rejoined the Bulldog program in 2004 after serving one season as head coach at Birmingham Southern College, was named the ITA Southeast Region's Assistant Coach of the Year Monday. Metz was on State's roster from 1994-98 and was the only player that was a member of MSU's two NCAA semifinal squads in '94 and '98. He later served two years (2001-02) as assistant coach for the Lady Bulldogs before taking the post in Birmingham.
The alliance of Guichard and Metz has moved State back among the nation's top 25 teams this season while gaining the program's 15th consecutive NCAA bid. The Bulldogs are currently ranked 23rd as they prepare for first-round NCAA action against Virginia Commonwealth this Friday, May 13, in Durham, N.C. Entering the NCAAs at 12-9 overall, MSU will finish 2005 with its first winning record since 2001.
Under their leadership, the Bulldogs also made the biggest turnaround in the SEC this season, going from 2-9 last year to 6-5 this season. State tied for fourth in the league overall this year, its best placement in the conference since 1998, and was second in the Western Division, it's best divisional finish since the SEC adopted divisions for men's tennis in 2002.
As regional award winners, Guichard and Metz are automatically nominated for the ITA National Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year awards, which will be announced at the ITA Awards Banquet, to be held Wednesday, May 25, in conjunction with the finals of the NCAA Championship in College Station, Texas.