Mark Wesselink Position: Head Coach Experience: 20th year

Email: mwesseli@richmond.edu
Phone: 804-289-8648

University of Richmond head women's tennis coach Mark Wesselink enters his 20th year at the helm of the program. With 16 winning seasons and eight NCAA Tournament appearances, Wesselink has built a nationally-competitive program at Richmond.

In just eight years of Atlantic 10 competition, Wesselink has earned five Coach of the Year honors after leading the Spiders to six conference championships (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009). Additionally, Wesselink has led Richmond to the NCAA Championships eight times in the past 12 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 297-180 after 20 years.

Since his arrival at Richmond, the Spiders have won almost 60 percent of their matches, owning a 237-156 mark in his 19 years. He has been instrumental in leading Richmond's rise to prominence, totaling double-digit wins in 12 of the past 15 seasons, including consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998 and 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. 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.

Prior to Richmond, Wesselink spent three seasons as the head coach at Drake University and posted a 60-24 mark. Previously, he served as an assistant coach at Harvard University where he helped the Crimson capture three Ivy League championships. During his tenure, five Harvard players garnered All-American recognition. 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, age 14, and Paige, 11.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
*Five-Time A-10 Coach of the Year
*Four Straight A-10 Championships
*Four Straight NCAA Appearances

UP CLOSE WITH MARK WESSELINK
Hobbies: Urban hang gliding and cliff diving, ping pong and taking the Jeep to the mountains and beach
Favorite Snack: Nesquick and blueberries
Favorite Athletes: Arthur Ashe, Apollo Ono, Kim Clijsters, Cal Ripken, Jr.
Favorite Actors: Kevin Spacey, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Denzel Washington
Favorite Actresses: Uma Thurman, Charlize Theron, Kate Beckinsale, Halle Berry
Favorite Movies: Cool Hand Luke, The Wedding Crashers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Rear Window
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