Northwestern University Athletics
Georgia Rose Accepts Assistant Coaching Position at Illinois
9/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 11, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Georgia Rose, one of the most successful players in Northwestern women's tennis history, has been named assistant coach of the Illinois women's tennis team, Illinois head coach Michelle Dasso announced Thursday. Rose, a 2009 graduate of NU, helped lead the Wildcats to four straight Big Ten titles and a final national ranking of No. 2 in 2008 and 2009.
"I would like to thank Michelle Dasso and the University of Illinois athletic department for this great opportunity," Rose said. "I'm looking forward to working with the team and building on their success from last year."
The Illini reached the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and the second round of the NCAA Championships in 2009.
Over the past four years, Northwestern women's tennis has risen from a perennial force in the Big Ten to national powerhouse, and Rose is one of the big reasons why. She made an immediate impact at Northwestern, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, in addition to being named ITA Midwest Freshman of the Year after posting a 38-8 overall record, including a school-record 29 consecutive singles wins, in 2006. She remained solid throughout her sophomore season as well, earning Big Ten Player of the Year accolades in 2007.
The four-time All-American finished her stellar career with an overall record of 125-36 and 29-2 in the Big Ten and was named ITA Midwest Regional Senior of the Year in 2009.
Dasso, a 2001 ITA National Senior of the Year honoree and four-time All-American herself, was excited to have an athlete like Rose join her staff.
"Georgia was an extremely successful and humble college player and she has the drive and desire to be an even better coach," Dasso said. "The experience she will bring from being on the top-ranked team in the country the past two years as well as her tremendous playing ability and conditioning level will prove to be a huge asset for the Illini program."
Courtesy Illinois Media Services
