Texas Tech University Athletics
Women's Tennis
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- melissa.kopinski@ttu.edu
Melissa Kopinski returned to Lubbock as she was named the assistant coach on Oct. 11, 2018. This is her second stint with the Texas Tech Women's Tennis program. From 2015-17, Kopinski was the volunteer coach.Â
Kopinski comes to the South Plains after spending one season at her alma mater, Illinois, as an assistant coach. She helped the Fighting Illini to a 22-6 record and the first NCAA Round of 32 appearance in nine years.
During her playing career at Illinois, Kopinski racked up a combined 162 victories highlighted by 88 doubles wins which ranks third all-time . She secured a trio of All-Big Ten selections while playing primarily at the No. 1 doubles position and either at the No. 2 or No. 3 singles slot for the Fighting Illini.
Kopinski earned ITA All-American honors in doubles with partner Rachael White in 2013. The pair advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals en route to 28 victories which checks in as the seventh-most in program history for a single season. They ended the season ranked No. 15 in the nation and No. 2 in the Midwest Region. Previously, the last time Illinois had an ITA All-American was in 1993.
Off the court, Kopinski was a Midwest Region ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award recipient. She also was named an ITA Scholar Athlete, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree during her career.
Kopinski earned her Bachelor of Science degree in community health with a concentration in health planning and administration in 2015. Her twin brother, Tim, also was an ITA All-American tennis player at Illinois from 2012-15.
