Northwestern University Athletics
Michelle Dasso Named Assistant Women's Tennis Coach
8/3/2016 2:37:00 PM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head women's tennis coach Claire Pollard has announced the hire of Michelle Dasso as the team's assistant coach.
Dasso joins the Wildcats after spending last season as a volunteer assistant coach at Duke. Prior to her time in Durham, Dasso was the head coach at Illinois for nine seasons from 2006-15. While at the helm of the Fighting Illini, she led her teams to a 122-98 record, including a 56-38 mark in Big Ten play.
Dasso guided Illinois to four NCAA tournament appearances with the 2012 squad earning a national ranking of No. 21.
"I'm thrilled to have Michelle on board," said Pollard. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help us achieve the goal of winning a team national championship here at NU. She is an excellent recruiter and has an extraordinary work ethic. Michelle was a phenomenal player and will use her skill set as a former elite player to help our players get the most out of themselves."
"Claire is an exceptional coach and I'm extremely grateful to be able to team up with her and join the Northwestern program," Dasso said. "I look forward to helping the team in any capacity I can."
A native of Long Grove, Illinois, Dasso was a standout collegiately at Notre Dame. A 2001 graduate, she left the school as the only four-time All-American in program history. An All-American in singles and doubles in 1999 and 2001, Dasso was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally in singles and fifth in doubles. In her final season with the Fighting Irish, Dasso was named the ITA National Senior Player of the Year and concluded her career as the school record holder in career singles wins (140), career doubles wins (109) and season singles victories (40).
After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration-marketing in 2001, Dasso played professionally for two years. She began her coaching career by serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Notre Dame, from 2003-06. In 2006, Dasso's efforts were recognized by the ITA, as she garnered the National Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Dasso joins the Wildcats after spending last season as a volunteer assistant coach at Duke. Prior to her time in Durham, Dasso was the head coach at Illinois for nine seasons from 2006-15. While at the helm of the Fighting Illini, she led her teams to a 122-98 record, including a 56-38 mark in Big Ten play.
Dasso guided Illinois to four NCAA tournament appearances with the 2012 squad earning a national ranking of No. 21.
"I'm thrilled to have Michelle on board," said Pollard. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help us achieve the goal of winning a team national championship here at NU. She is an excellent recruiter and has an extraordinary work ethic. Michelle was a phenomenal player and will use her skill set as a former elite player to help our players get the most out of themselves."
"Claire is an exceptional coach and I'm extremely grateful to be able to team up with her and join the Northwestern program," Dasso said. "I look forward to helping the team in any capacity I can."
A native of Long Grove, Illinois, Dasso was a standout collegiately at Notre Dame. A 2001 graduate, she left the school as the only four-time All-American in program history. An All-American in singles and doubles in 1999 and 2001, Dasso was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally in singles and fifth in doubles. In her final season with the Fighting Irish, Dasso was named the ITA National Senior Player of the Year and concluded her career as the school record holder in career singles wins (140), career doubles wins (109) and season singles victories (40).
After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration-marketing in 2001, Dasso played professionally for two years. She began her coaching career by serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Notre Dame, from 2003-06. In 2006, Dasso's efforts were recognized by the ITA, as she garnered the National Assistant Coach of the Year award.
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