Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Women's Tennis Players Enjoying The Other Side
January 31, 2005 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2005
By Stephanie Orr, Texas Tech Media Relations
They were competitors in Big 12 women's tennis, now they are graduates and coaches. Kendall Brooks and Irina Tereschenko, alumnae of Texas Tech, said goodbye to playing tennis and hello to coaching careers.
Cari Groce, head coach of the women's tennis team at Tech, said both women love the university. "They have vested interest in Tech as players and alumni," Groce said. "Here are two solid people who have showed me all the good things about Tech."
With more coaches on staff, it is easier for the players to get maximum feedback at practice."We don't have to spread ourselves thin," Groce said.
Tereschenko said coaching tennis is the logical next step as an individual and a player. She is a student assistant for the women's tennis team at Tech. Her degree is in advertising; she is currently pursuing a master's in sports management.
It was a quick cultural adjustment moving from Moscow to Lubbock four years ago. "I was just thrown in," she said.
 After a successful playing career, Tereschenko is now a student assistant coach.  | |
She wants a career that will combine her two degrees, and maybe coach full-time in the future. "Coaching is a great opportunity to bring what I've gained through competition and apply it," Tereschenko said. She enjoys the opportunity to impact the players' game and watch them perform well.
Groce said Tereschenko brings valuable creative thinking to the court. "She still has a good tennis game, is great at thinking up new drills, and can put the girls through the ringer," she said.
For Tereschenko, moving from competitor to coach was easy. "I think a lot of it has to do with our head coach. The players have so much respect for her, and that feeling transmits to us," she said.
Brooks is the assistant coach for the Tech women's tennis team. She loved competing in college, but said she was ready to work on the other side of the court.
"Now I have to sit on the sidelines and watch," Brooks said. "It's hard, but I still get to take part in competition through coaching."
When the assistant coach position opened, Brooks was a good choice, Groce said. The adjustment was easy for everyone because Brooks was an outspoken leader as a student athlete.
"She will be a very good head coach one day," Groce said. "She's extremely diligent, and has great office skills. We are putting a good coach into the world of college tennis."
Brooks said she knew for a long time this is what she wanted to do. Eventually, she wants to become head coach of a successful tennis program. She has been on recruiting trips to become more familiar with the process.
"I have a lot to learn as far as coaching goes, and it's been fun working for my alma mater," she said. "Long term, I want to look at athletics administration."
Three girls on this year's team played with both Brooks and Tereschenko. Brooks said when she moved from friend and teammate to coach, the girls on the team respected what she was trying to accomplish.
"I have watched them grow as players and people," Brooks said. Tereschenko said the players were young when she and Brooks played on the same team, and looked up to them as team captains. "Now they look up to us as assistant coaches."
Brooks and Tereschenko recommend Tech to high school athletes considering playing collegiate tennis. They both agreed playing for Tech is a great opportunity.
"The Big 12 is one of the top conferences in the nation," Brooks said. "Tech has a competitive schedule, and we are building the program into a top-50 school."
Brooks jokingly said her favorite part about Tech was the dining halls. She said Tech has a big-school atmosphere with a small-school feel, especially in athletics.
"It's a cheesy cliché to say we're all family, but it's true," Brooks said. "The athletes stick together."
