For Immediate Release: Friday, May 02, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

CHAPMAN STEPS DOWN AS UTPA'S HEAD TENNIS COACH

EDINBURG, TX-The head coach of The University of Texas-Pan American's men's and women's tennis teams, Todd Chapman, is stepping down from his post.

Chapman, who was recently named Southland Conference Men's Tennis Coach of the Year, will leave Texas-Pan American later this month to be closer to his family. He will take a position as the Co-Head Tennis Coach at Ennis High School in Ennis, Texas, and will also become the Assistant Manager of the Lion Tennis Center in Ennis.

Chapman led the Broncs to a 13-8 record this season. They tied for second place in the Southland Conference, which was their highest SLC finish ever. For the second year in a row, Texas-Pan American won a first round match at the conference tournament, another feat that had not been accomplished before last season. UTPA's record was their best since 1992. The Broncs were twice nationally ranked (72nd and 73rd), and the national ranking was the first for a UTPA tennis team in 12 years.

Two of Chapman's players, sophomores Filip Koziell (Calgary, AB/Bishop Carroll HS) and Jeremy Salvo (Coquitlam, BC/Centennial Secondary) earned All-SLC honors this year, and the Broncs earned SLC Men's Player of the Week honors eight times in two seasons.

The Broncs and Lady Broncs have also excelled academically under Chapman's tenure. The women's team has earned All-Academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in each of the past two seasons. Last spring the, the women's tennis team had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.439, when they were nominated for the ITA award, while the men's team had a cumulative GPA of 3.123. Since Chapman's arrival in the fall of 2001, each team has had semester and cumulative GPA's of 3.0 or better in each semester.

Chapman joined Texas-Pan American after two years as the head coach at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, At USAO, Chapman led the Drovers' men's and women's teams to positions among the elite squads in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. His men's team was ranked 19th in the nation, and his women's team was rated 23rd nationally. He coached three NAIA Academic All-Americans, and his team's grade-point average exceeded a 3.0 each season. Chapman also served as a professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, and was the Director of Intramurals.

Chapman began his coaching career at his alma mater, Cameron University. He served as the assistant coach for both the women's team, which was ranked 19th among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II teams, and the men's team, which was ranked #23 in Division II.

An Academic All-American at Cameron, he was ranked regionally in singles and 16th nationally in doubles, and was a doubles finalist in the Rolex Regional Tournament in 1997. His team was ranked 12th nationally, he was named a Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete, and was a recipient of a National Collegiate Physical Education Award. Chapman served as a member of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and received the 3-D Award for his desire, dedication and determination.

"An opportunity came up that gave me a chance to move closer to home and be close to my family, and, at this point in my life, I'm going to choose my personal life over my professional one," said Chapman. "I've had a wonderful two years here at UTPA, I had the opportunity to coach a wonderful group of student-athletes, and I had the opportunity to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams, which was coaching Division I tennis," said Chapman. "One of the hardest things is leaving our student-athletes, who bought into my coaching system 100 per cent, and gave me everything they had. Knowing that this could be the last college coaching position I have, I wouldn't have traded this group for any other. I want to thank Mr. (UTPA Director of Athletics William J.) Weidner and the people I've had the fortune of getting to know and work with. I feel that UTPA tennis is going in the right direction, and with the talent in place, the men and women should have very successful seasons next year. There won't be a bigger fan of UTPA tennis and UTPA athletics in the future, and I'll look forward to following the continued success of UTPA athletics."

"Todd Chapman has provided outstanding leadership and direction for our tennis program during his tenure at UTPA," said Weidner. "During his stay at UTPA, both our men's and women's tennis teams have excelled both on the court and in the classroom. He has demonstrated a true commitment to the concept of assisting the total development of his student-athletes in both the athletic and academic arenas. Todd has earned the respect of our administration, his fellow coaches, and perhaps most important, that of our student-athletes."

"I know that this was a very difficult decision for Todd," Weidner added. "However, Coach Chapman has our total support and we wish him well in all of his future endeavors. On behalf of The University of Texas-Pan American and our entire athletic department, we want to thank Todd for his dedication and effort in laying a strong foundation upon which our tennis program can build future successes."

Texas-Pan American will begin a national search for a new head men's and women's tennis coach immediately.

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