Thornqvist Tabbed to ITA Board of Directors
Thursday, April 25, 2019 | Women's Tennis
Women's tennis Head Coach Roland Thornqvist one of seven new appointees.
TEMPE, Ariz. – University of Florida women's tennis head coach Roland Thornqvist was named one of seven new appointees to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Board of Directors, the organization announced Wednesday evening.
The ITA, the not-for-profit governing body of college tennis, oversees men's and women's tennis at all levels - NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College.
Thornqvist along with Shaheen Ladhani (Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Advisor), Danielle Lund McNamara (Yale Head Women's Tennis Coach), Dr. Ann Lebedeff (Professor of Physical Education and Athletics at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges), Dr. Tommy Valentini (Gustavus Adolphus Head Men's Tennis Coach), Billy Pate (Princeton University Head Men's Tennis Coach) and Judy Van Horn (University of South Carolina Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sport and Risk Management all joined the 19-person board.
"It's an honor to join the board. Having been a part of the ITA for all these years, I really appreciate and have the utmost respect for what they do. This gives me a chance to give back to an organization that means so much to our sport. I am thrilled to join such a distinguished and well-respected group and am very much looking forward to the opportunity," said Thornqvist.
Created to support the ITA and college tennis, the Board of Directors is chaired by Jon Vegosen, a founding member of the Chicago corporate and litigation law firm Funkhouser Vergosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd. Russell, as the Association's president and chief executive officer, also serves on the board.
"I am appreciative that our sport and Association have such a committed group of individuals who are giving of their time to work collaboratively on behalf of our coaches, programs and student-athletes. At the same, I am excited and thankful to our new members who share the same passion for college tennis and possess the desire to help grow our sport," said ITA Chief Executive Officer Timothy Russell.
In his 18th season at the helm of the University of Florida women's tennis program, Thornqvist has guided the Gators to four National Championships (2017, 2012, 2011, 2003) and over 400 wins during his tenure in Gainesville. The five-time SEC Coach of the Year and 2011 ITA National Coach of the Year has produced 25 All-Americans and 27 All-SEC First Team selections.
The Stockholm, Sweden native has won 20 or more matches in all but two of his 17 completed seasons in the swamp as he has helped develop Florida into one of the most revered programs in the nation.
Thornqvist, who has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all 22 of his seasons spent as a head coach, has amassed the second most wins in program history, trailing only the legendary Andy Brando who finished with 460 wins during his 17 seasons with the Gators.
He began his playing career at Elon where he spent one season, winning the NAIA singles and doubles championships as a freshman, before transferring to North Carolina. Thornqvist spent his final three years of eligibility with the Tar Heels, earning All-American status in both 1992 and 1993 and bringing home All-ACC accolades in all three seasons. Before joining Florida, Thornqvist spent two seasons as the head coach at Kansas and three at his alma matter, North Carolina.
The new term will begin July 1, 2019.
For the full ITA press release click here
What's Next for the Gators
The 64-team field for the 2019 NCAA Championships is set to be unveiled Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
The ITA, the not-for-profit governing body of college tennis, oversees men's and women's tennis at all levels - NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College.
Thornqvist along with Shaheen Ladhani (Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Advisor), Danielle Lund McNamara (Yale Head Women's Tennis Coach), Dr. Ann Lebedeff (Professor of Physical Education and Athletics at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges), Dr. Tommy Valentini (Gustavus Adolphus Head Men's Tennis Coach), Billy Pate (Princeton University Head Men's Tennis Coach) and Judy Van Horn (University of South Carolina Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sport and Risk Management all joined the 19-person board.
"It's an honor to join the board. Having been a part of the ITA for all these years, I really appreciate and have the utmost respect for what they do. This gives me a chance to give back to an organization that means so much to our sport. I am thrilled to join such a distinguished and well-respected group and am very much looking forward to the opportunity," said Thornqvist.
Created to support the ITA and college tennis, the Board of Directors is chaired by Jon Vegosen, a founding member of the Chicago corporate and litigation law firm Funkhouser Vergosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd. Russell, as the Association's president and chief executive officer, also serves on the board.
"I am appreciative that our sport and Association have such a committed group of individuals who are giving of their time to work collaboratively on behalf of our coaches, programs and student-athletes. At the same, I am excited and thankful to our new members who share the same passion for college tennis and possess the desire to help grow our sport," said ITA Chief Executive Officer Timothy Russell.
In his 18th season at the helm of the University of Florida women's tennis program, Thornqvist has guided the Gators to four National Championships (2017, 2012, 2011, 2003) and over 400 wins during his tenure in Gainesville. The five-time SEC Coach of the Year and 2011 ITA National Coach of the Year has produced 25 All-Americans and 27 All-SEC First Team selections.
The Stockholm, Sweden native has won 20 or more matches in all but two of his 17 completed seasons in the swamp as he has helped develop Florida into one of the most revered programs in the nation.
Thornqvist, who has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all 22 of his seasons spent as a head coach, has amassed the second most wins in program history, trailing only the legendary Andy Brando who finished with 460 wins during his 17 seasons with the Gators.
He began his playing career at Elon where he spent one season, winning the NAIA singles and doubles championships as a freshman, before transferring to North Carolina. Thornqvist spent his final three years of eligibility with the Tar Heels, earning All-American status in both 1992 and 1993 and bringing home All-ACC accolades in all three seasons. Before joining Florida, Thornqvist spent two seasons as the head coach at Kansas and three at his alma matter, North Carolina.
The new term will begin July 1, 2019.
For the full ITA press release click here
What's Next for the Gators
The 64-team field for the 2019 NCAA Championships is set to be unveiled Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
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