Sylvain Guichard - Men's Tennis Coach

Sylvain Guichard

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
sguichard@athletics.msstate.edu

Replacing long-term coaching experience is never an easy task. But when Mississippi State's head men's tennis coaching position was vacated by its winningest coach, Andy Jackson, at the end of the 2001 season after 13 years, State had to look no further than the courts at MSU for the new leader of the nationally-prominent men's tennis squad.

No stranger to the State tennis scene, Sylvain Guichard took over the reigns of the MSU men's tennis program in July 2001, looking to continue the success the Bulldog netters have become so accustomed to during their entire history, and particularly since 1990. He became State's head coach after serving six valuable seasons as State's full-time assistant coach, having held that position since the 1996 season.

"Much like Coach Jackson did, I truly believe that we have the structure at MSU to compete for a national championship," Guichard said upon his hiring. "Saying that may put some pressure on myself, but I feel we can do it and I don't want to be caught by surprise when the occasion strikes. We came very close a couple of times in the past decade and I don't think it was due to pure luck. MSU Tennis has the potential to do it, and it will at some point."

In his first five campaigns, Guichard led State back to the NCAA Championship four times, reaching the second round in 2002 and 2004. In ???02, he became the first State coach ever to lead his first squad to the NCAAs, and the Bulldogs' 6-2 start that year marked the best season beginning by a rookie MSU coach in 30 years. After battling injuries throughout 2003, the Bulldogs rebounded in 2005, jumping 13 spots in the final national rankings, finishing 29th in the country. Last season, the Bulldogs missed the NCAA's for the first time in 15 years but did reach the semis of the SEC tournament for the first time since 1998.

In that tournament, Guichard led the Bulldogs to an upset win over 20th-ranked LSU in the first round, which was the first ever win by a 12th seed in the tournament. The Bulldogs then moved on to top fourth-seeded Kentucky in the quarterfinals 4-2 to claim their spot in the top four.

Guichard's tennis teams have also been outstanding from an academic standpoint. During his first five seasons as head coach, the Bulldogs have had the best grade point average of all men's sports on campus. In 2002-03, State's 3.56 GPA was the best of all of State's sports teams overall. In all five of his seasons, MSU has earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Academic Team Award, which requires a team GPA of 3.20 or higher. In addition, Bulldogs have earned ITA Scholar-Athlete status, which requires a 3.5 GPA or higher, 18 times during his five seasons. And, during his tenure, Bulldogs have been named Academic all-SEC 24 times. Guichard carries with him a decade of experience on the college tennis level, which dates back to his days as a player for the Bulldogs in the early 1990s.

As MSU's assistant, Guichard handled a variety of duties for the Bulldogs. In addition to everyday coaching responsibilities, the Grenoble, France, native also helped keep MSU's relations with his home country, which has produced several talented Bulldogs during the last decade. That relationship continues to be valuable in his new role of head coach.

During his association with the State coaching staff, Guichard has helped MSU to two NCAA Championship semifinal appearances, five national quarterfinal showings, and seven round of 16s. He aided in coaching State to its 1996 SEC Tournament championship as well.

The 17th head coach in State men's tennis lore, Guichard also served as a student assistant coach for the Bulldogs during the 1994 season. It was during that year he helped tutor Bulldogs Laurent Miquelard and Joc Simmons, who claimed the NCAA Doubles crown that spring. Miquelard and Simmons are two of 10 MSU all-Americans that Guichard has been instrumental in developing at MSU.

A two-year letterman for the Bulldogs during the 1992 and 1993 seasons, Guichard posted an impressive career 50-17 (74.6%) singles record for MSU (ranks fifth all-time in winning percentage) and compiled a 12-8 mark in doubles play. An Academic all-Southeastern Conference selection in 1992-93, he was part of the solid lower half of the MSU lineup in 1993, which was an integral cog of MSU's 1993 SEC Championship squad. Guichard went 32-8 in singles in 1993, including a perfect 12-0 record at the #6 position and an incredible 10-0 mark in SEC play, an MSU record.

Guichard believes all of those experiences, all of which came under Jackson's tutelage, will prove to be invaluable during his tenure as State's head coach.

"Let's put it this way...before I started working with Andy - first as a player, then as an assistant - I knew nothing,"Guichard said. "I had some ideas about playing and coaching, and he helped me put my philosophy of coaching and managing together. Everything I do or say now has been influenced in some way by working alongside him for 10 years. My experiences with him are a major part of why I am now the leader of our program."

Also a singles and doubles finalist at the 1992 Mississippi Intercollegiate, Guichard attained his highest national ranking as a collegian in April 1993, coming in at 76th in the country. He won 14 straight matches to end his MSU career.

"We are extremely excited about having turned over the reigns of our men's tennis program to Sylvain," MSU director of athletics Larry Templeton said upon Guichard's hiring in 2001.

"He has been outstanding for us as a player and as an assistant, and we are confident that his experience and direction as our head coach will keep our team in the national limelight of college tennis."

Guichard completed work on his undergraduate degree in sports management in the summer of 1997 and was named the University's Outstanding International Undergraduate for his academic success. He also holds a master's degree in sports administration.

With three seasons now under his belt, Guichard remains excited about his first opportunity as a head coach on the collegiate level.

"Being selected for the position meant a lot to me," Guichard said. "In a large way, it is the satisfaction that my philosophy of life works. I firmly believe that when you are sincere with everybody and work hard, you will get the reward. You don't necessarily know when the reward will come, but it will come eventually.

"It also touched me to see all the support I have received from lots of people in this community, some of which I don't even know. I love the community my family and I live in, and to see so many people showing their appreciation for the work I have done has been a tremendous feeling of satisfaction."

In addition to his coaching duties, Guichard also presently serves on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Southeast Regional Committee. In that role, he is influential in determining the ITA regional and national rankings, selecting entrants into the ITA's national tournaments, and choosing ITA regional and national award winners.

Currently a certified coach for the French Federation of Tennis (BE2) and a certified PTR professional, Guichard is married to the former Sophie Brauge, also of Grenoble. The couple has a daughter, Eileen (7), and a son, Tommy (2).