Northwestern University Athletics
Laura Gordon Tabbed as Assistant Coach
10/21/2015 12:14:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Former UCLA standout joins Wildcats' coaching staff
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern head women's tennis coach Claire Pollard has announced the hire of Laura Gordon as the team's assistant coach.
Gordon replaces Rob Gurden who recently accepted the head coaching position for the men's tennis team at the University of Northern Colorado.
A former standout at UCLA, Gordon comes to Northwestern after serving as a professional coach for Lauren Embree.
"During an incredibly intensive search, Laura checked every box and some," Pollard said. "She is a person of the highest character and has the enthusiasm, experience and work ethic it takes to help us bring more championships to NU. She is a program-changer and all of us knew that when we met her."
"I am extremely honored to join the Northwestern tennis program," said Gordon. "It's a huge privilege to become part of a school with such prestigious academic and athletic traditions. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work with Coach Pollard, who is so highly respected in women's college tennis. I look forward to working alongside her to assist in the development of the team and continue to build upon the success of the program."
Prior to coaching Embree, Gordon served two years on the coaching staff at her alma mater. In her first season as a volunteer assistant coach in 2013, UCLA reached the semifinal round of the NCAA tournament. The following year, she helped the Bruins post an impressive 27-2 record while winning the 2014 NCAA Championship.
Since graduating from UCLA in 2006, Gordon also has served as a full-time assistant coach at both Fresno State and Harvard. She was on the Fresno State coaching staff during the 2008-09 season, helping the Bulldogs reach the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. Fresno State also won the WAC Championship that year, finishing the season with a 24-6 overall record. An excellent doubles player herself, Gordon was instrumental in the development of ITA National Doubles Team of the Year Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova. The Bulldog duo, which was ranked No. 1 in the country during the season, reached the semifinals at the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Following her stint at Fresno State, Gordon served one season as an assistant coach at Harvard in 2009-10. The Crimson earned a spot in the 64-team draw for the NCAA Championships that season, also finishing in second place in the Ivy League standings. Harvard's top player, Holly Cao, also participated in the NCAA Singles Championships in 2010.
Following her playing career at UCLA, Gordon spent the 2006-07 season as an undergraduate assistant with UCLA under head coach Stella Sampras Webster. Gordon helped guide the Bruins to the NCAA Final that year, as the Bruins finished the season with a 21-8 record and a No. 3 ranking.
Gordon was a member of the UCLA women's tennis team from 2002-06. She arrived at UCLA as a walk on and eventually worked her way to the No. 1 singles and doubles positions. She earned All-America honors in both singles and doubles as a senior, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2006 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Riza Zalameda. Gordon earned All-Pac-10 and All-Academic Pac-10 honors following the 2006 season, and also received the ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship that same year.
She graduated from UCLA with a degree in history in 2006.
Gordon replaces Rob Gurden who recently accepted the head coaching position for the men's tennis team at the University of Northern Colorado.
A former standout at UCLA, Gordon comes to Northwestern after serving as a professional coach for Lauren Embree.
"During an incredibly intensive search, Laura checked every box and some," Pollard said. "She is a person of the highest character and has the enthusiasm, experience and work ethic it takes to help us bring more championships to NU. She is a program-changer and all of us knew that when we met her."
"I am extremely honored to join the Northwestern tennis program," said Gordon. "It's a huge privilege to become part of a school with such prestigious academic and athletic traditions. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work with Coach Pollard, who is so highly respected in women's college tennis. I look forward to working alongside her to assist in the development of the team and continue to build upon the success of the program."
Prior to coaching Embree, Gordon served two years on the coaching staff at her alma mater. In her first season as a volunteer assistant coach in 2013, UCLA reached the semifinal round of the NCAA tournament. The following year, she helped the Bruins post an impressive 27-2 record while winning the 2014 NCAA Championship.
Since graduating from UCLA in 2006, Gordon also has served as a full-time assistant coach at both Fresno State and Harvard. She was on the Fresno State coaching staff during the 2008-09 season, helping the Bulldogs reach the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. Fresno State also won the WAC Championship that year, finishing the season with a 24-6 overall record. An excellent doubles player herself, Gordon was instrumental in the development of ITA National Doubles Team of the Year Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova. The Bulldog duo, which was ranked No. 1 in the country during the season, reached the semifinals at the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Following her stint at Fresno State, Gordon served one season as an assistant coach at Harvard in 2009-10. The Crimson earned a spot in the 64-team draw for the NCAA Championships that season, also finishing in second place in the Ivy League standings. Harvard's top player, Holly Cao, also participated in the NCAA Singles Championships in 2010.
Following her playing career at UCLA, Gordon spent the 2006-07 season as an undergraduate assistant with UCLA under head coach Stella Sampras Webster. Gordon helped guide the Bruins to the NCAA Final that year, as the Bruins finished the season with a 21-8 record and a No. 3 ranking.
Gordon was a member of the UCLA women's tennis team from 2002-06. She arrived at UCLA as a walk on and eventually worked her way to the No. 1 singles and doubles positions. She earned All-America honors in both singles and doubles as a senior, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2006 NCAA Doubles Championships with partner Riza Zalameda. Gordon earned All-Pac-10 and All-Academic Pac-10 honors following the 2006 season, and also received the ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship that same year.
She graduated from UCLA with a degree in history in 2006.
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