Friday, September 09, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh announced on Friday that former University of Miami assistant coach C.J. Weber has been named the second head coach in men’s tennis team history.

“We are excited to have C.J. joining our Eagles’ Athletics Family,” said Kavanagh. “In particular, amidst a very qualified candidate pool, his energy and enthusiasm stood out throughout the search process and he comes with lofty recommendations from some of the most respected head coaches in the country. Coupled with his extended tenure within the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, he brings a strong background of success as a coach.

“We feel confident that he possesses the overall ingredients necessary to maximize the capabilities of our student-athletes both on the courts and in the classroom. In turn, we look forward to his providing energized daily leadership to our student-athletes and continuing our ascension to the upper echelon of the Atlantic Sun Conference, in our pursuit of the conference championship and beyond.” Over his four years at the University of Miami, the Hurricanes had four players earn a total of eight All-America honors.

Last season, Weber helped guide the Hurricanes to a No. 27 ITA ranking and a fourth place finish in the ACC regular season. For his efforts he was named the 2011 ITA Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

“What an awesome honor and opportunity to be chosen the head men’s tennis coach at Florida Gulf Coast University,” said Weber. “Becoming a Division I head coach has been a career goal of mine since I got into college coaching. FGCU is a very special place. I knew inside that it was the place for me as soon as I stepped onto campus.”

Prior to working at Miami, Weber had an impressive four-year collegiate playing career for Eastern Illinois University, and then went on to pick up coaching experience at both his alma mater and the University of Illinois.

Weber spent the spring of 2006 serving as the volunteer assistant coach for the ninth-ranked Fighting Illini, coordinating practice sessions, providing on-court instruction and match preparation, overseeing fitness and conditioning, as well as providing administrative support. At Illinois, he coached three All-Americans and helped guide the team to the semifinals of the USTA/ITA National Indoors Tournament and to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Tournament.

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