University of Richmond head women's tennis coach Mark Wesselink enters his 21st year at the helm of the program. With 17 winning seasons and nine NCAA Tournament appearances, Wesselink has built a nationally-competitive program at Richmond.

In just 11 years of Atlantic 10 competition, Wesselink has earned seven Coach of the Year honors after leading the Spiders to nine conference championships (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Additionally, Wesselink has led Richmond to the NCAA Championships 11 times in the past 15 years. Wesselink reached the 200-career victory plateau in Richmond's 2000 CAA Tournament win over James Madison and currently owns a career record of 333-202 after 24 years as a head coach.

While at Richmond, Wesselink has guided the Spiders to a 265-166 mark in 21 years at the helm. He has been instrumental in leading Richmond's rise to prominence, totaling double-digit wins in 15 of the past 19 seasons, including consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998 and 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. In addition, Richmond captured the ITA East Region fall team title in October 1995.

As the 1997 CAA Coach of the Year, Wesselink guided Richmond's No. 1 doubles tandem of Lesia Bilak and Bridget Merrick to a national ranking of ninth. As one of the top 32 pairs in the country, the duo qualified for the NCAA Doubles Championship.

One of the most well-respected coaches in the tennis community, Wesselink served as chairmen of the 83-team ITA Division I Eastern Regional Committee in 1993.

Wesselink and his wife, Shanan Raines, a neuropsychologist with a private practice, reside in Richmond with their two children, Isaak and Paige.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
*Six-Time A-10 Coach of the Year
*Four-Straight A-10 Titles
*Nine A-10 Championships in the last 10 years
*Four-Straight NCAA Appearances
*2009 VaSID Coach of the Year

UP CLOSE WITH MARK WESSELINK
Hobbies: Urban hang gliding and cliff diving, kayaking, and taking trips in the Jeep
Favorite Snack: Nesquick and blueberries
Favorite Athletes: Arthur Ashe, Apollo Ono, Kim Clijsters, Hope Solo 
Favorite Actors: Will Smith, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio 
Favorite Actresses: Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Rachel McAdams, Zoey Deschanel, Charlize Theron 
Favorite Movies: Cool Hand Luke, The Wedding Crashers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Hangover
Favorite Book: "Sacred Hoops", "Seabiscuit" and "A Confederacy of Dunces"
Favorite Vacation Spot: Tortola, British Virgin Islands
My greatest accomplishments are: My son and daughter, Isaak and Paige
My greatest challenges are: My son and daughter, Isaak and Paige
If I were not a coach, I would be: An astronaut