The Bronco tennis programs had some changes over the past summer. Interim women’s head coach Ben Cabell shed the interim label on July 16, while longtime men’s head coach George Husack stepped down on Aug. 10. Husack has been replaced by former Saint Louis University head coach Derek Mills.
Cabell led the shorthanded Broncos to a strong season in 2006-07. With injuries knocking out a number of key players, SCU has an 8-12 record and a fifth-place finish in the West Coast Conference. Three players, Erika Barnes, Kim Daniel, and Casey Knutson, were named All-WCC under Cabell. He becomes the 10th head coach in program history.
“I am very excited to be named the head coach at Santa Clara,” said Cabell. “SCU is a great fit for me and I think that we have everything in place to build a great program. There is no limit as to how far this program can go, so I am looking forward to continuing my work here.”
On the men’s side, Husack stepped down after 12 seasons at Santa Clara as an assistant coach and head coach. He posted a 68-63 overall record on the Mission Campus and led the team to a number of wins over nationally-ranked opponents. This past year, the Broncos had the best season in program history, posting a 20-8 mark and earning a No. 59 ranking in the country. Eight players received All-WCC accolades and the team earned the number two seed in the conference tournament.
“I am truly grateful for the many opportunities given to me here at Santa Clara University,” said Husack. “The relationships established with players, coaches, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and fans have meant so much to me as they impacted my life both personally and professionally.”
Mills, who headed both men’s and women’s tennis at SLU from 1999-01, coached three All-Conference USA players, and his team posted a GPA of 3.3. He also spent time as an assistant coach at Brigham Young and Northwest Missouri State. —JM