New tennis programs look to be an 'Ace'
Rey Perez
Issue date: 5/10/10 Section: Sports
When it comes to athletics at PUC, the sky may be the limit in the years to come. With the idea of expansion came the advent of new team sports. One of the new sports that will find its way into the PUC athletic lineup next fall is men's and women's tennis. These two programs will become the first of their kind at PUC.
Leading the way for the first ever tennis programs are men's head coach Donn Gobbie, and Timothy Maluga who takes the reins as the women's head coach. Both men boast impressive resumes and previous coaching stints.
Gobbie brings 21 years of tennis experience with him to PUC that includes stops at St. Josephs College as well as Valparaiso University. He has also held multiple coaching positions at high schools in Northwest Indiana.
"There is a lot of excitement for the new tennis programs," Gobbie said. "There's no pressure at all. I like to be on the ground floor of helping to start projects."
Maluga's experience is vast as well and his coaching resume includes a long seven year stint as a tennis coach at Valparaiso University. In addition to his long tenure at Valparaiso, Maluga coached the boys and girls tennis teams at Griffith High School for 11 full seasons. Maluga currently teaches classes in the business department at PUC as well.
"The girls who have come out for the team so far are very excited about the opportunity to get out and play competitively again," Maluga said.
"I find it exciting myself to take a program from its infancy. I've taken a losing program to winning before, but not many coaches get the opportunity to be with a program from the start," Maluga said when speaking of the pressures of being the first coach for PUC's women's tennis program.
As with any athletic program at its birth, the tennis teams have moderate expectations. Gobbie expects his team to compete very well against all of their opponents.
"Most importantly, I know our players will represent PUC with good sportsmanship and enjoy themselves," Gobbie said.
Maluga echoed Gobbie when he said that there were two expectations the first season: getting better as the season transpires and having fun."
Neither team will be holding open tryouts, but they would welcome anyone interested in the game of tennis and team play.
"We've been out a few times to hit so far, but new players are always welcome to come out and join us," Maluga said.
Gobbie agreed adding, "If any player makes the commitment, practices and wants to improve, they are welcome."
An expectation of Maluga's may be the most important of all regarding the success of the tennis programs.
"Some students in my classes have also made a point to mention that they're looking forward to supporting PUC athletic teams beyond just basketball," Maluga said.
Leading the way for the first ever tennis programs are men's head coach Donn Gobbie, and Timothy Maluga who takes the reins as the women's head coach. Both men boast impressive resumes and previous coaching stints.
Gobbie brings 21 years of tennis experience with him to PUC that includes stops at St. Josephs College as well as Valparaiso University. He has also held multiple coaching positions at high schools in Northwest Indiana.
"There is a lot of excitement for the new tennis programs," Gobbie said. "There's no pressure at all. I like to be on the ground floor of helping to start projects."
Maluga's experience is vast as well and his coaching resume includes a long seven year stint as a tennis coach at Valparaiso University. In addition to his long tenure at Valparaiso, Maluga coached the boys and girls tennis teams at Griffith High School for 11 full seasons. Maluga currently teaches classes in the business department at PUC as well.
"The girls who have come out for the team so far are very excited about the opportunity to get out and play competitively again," Maluga said.
"I find it exciting myself to take a program from its infancy. I've taken a losing program to winning before, but not many coaches get the opportunity to be with a program from the start," Maluga said when speaking of the pressures of being the first coach for PUC's women's tennis program.
As with any athletic program at its birth, the tennis teams have moderate expectations. Gobbie expects his team to compete very well against all of their opponents.
"Most importantly, I know our players will represent PUC with good sportsmanship and enjoy themselves," Gobbie said.
Maluga echoed Gobbie when he said that there were two expectations the first season: getting better as the season transpires and having fun."
Neither team will be holding open tryouts, but they would welcome anyone interested in the game of tennis and team play.
"We've been out a few times to hit so far, but new players are always welcome to come out and join us," Maluga said.
Gobbie agreed adding, "If any player makes the commitment, practices and wants to improve, they are welcome."
An expectation of Maluga's may be the most important of all regarding the success of the tennis programs.
"Some students in my classes have also made a point to mention that they're looking forward to supporting PUC athletic teams beyond just basketball," Maluga said.
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jeremy petersen
posted 7/28/10 @ 2:46 AM CST
pls keep me updated on this story as I am very interested in it. Sincerely, Jeremy Petersen
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