Tom Rees Named Head Coach at Incarnate Word
Jun 25, 2021 | Tennis
Rees spent two years as the top assistant for the Wildcats
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State assistant women's tennis coach Tom Rees has been named the head women's tennis coach at Incarnate Word University in an announcement by the San Antonio, Texas-based university on Friday afternoon (June 25).
Rees, a native of Worcestershire, England, has spent the past two seasons (2019-21) at K-State, serving as the top assistant to head coach Jordan Smith and helping the Wildcats to 15 wins, including seven during the interrupted COVID-19 season of 2020-21. He also played a role in developing sophomore Karine-Marion Job and junior Maria Linares into All-Big 12 performers, which they earned as a doubles' tandem this past spring, along with Job being selected to the singles' team.
In addition, Rees was key in helping K-State secure a Top 25 recruiting class in 2021 from the Tennis Recruiting Network, which is the program's highest-ranked class since 2017.
"This is a fantastic hire for Incarnate Word and their women's tennis program," said Smith. "Tom is going to be fundamental in developing a winning culture for UIW in the Southland Conference. He will be a positive influence for the student-athletes, community, and all of Cardinal nation. This is a perfect fit and look forward to following his success for years to come."
This will be Rees' third head coaching assignment, following stints as the head men's and women's coach at a pair of Division II schools in Illinois-Springfield (2014-16) and Lenoir-Rhyne (2016-19).
In three seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Rees collected a 42-23 overall record as the men's coach, while he posted a 38-27 mark with the women's team. He guided both squads to program-best records in 2018-19, with the men going 18-4 while the women registered an 18-5 mark.
The Bears' record-breaking 2018-19 season saw the men's team earn their first-ever national ranking, ending the year at No. 20 in the Division II rankings, while also totaling the team's first appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinal. The women's team also earned their way into the semifinal round of the SAC Tournament for the first time in program history and finished the season at No. 33 nationally.
Prior to his time at Lenoir-Rhyne, Rees spent two seasons (2014-16) as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Illinois Springfield. While at UIS, he led the women's program to all-time best marks in each of his two seasons, including a record 11 wins in 2015-16, while the 13 wins by the men's team in 2015-16 marked the first .500-or-better season in the program's Division II era.
Rees completed his collegiate playing career at UNC Asheville, where he totaled 67 combined victories in his three seasons. He was the 2012 Big South Conference Flight No. 2 doubles champion and was a two-time Big South All-Academic Team honoree. He competed at Tusculum College as a freshman, going 12-12 and helping the Pioneers reach the South Atlantic Conference championship match and a No. 28 national ranking before transferring.
Upon the completion of his collegiate career, Rees went on to compete on the International Tennis Federation's professional circuit in Europe in 2012.
A certified USPTA Elite Professional Tennis Coach and Tennis Performance Trainer, Rees has worked as a travel coaching on the ATP tour with professional players Jose Statham and Marcos Giron.
Rees graduated from UNC Asheville in 2012 with a degree in French before earning his master's degree from North Georgia in public administration in 2014.
Rees, a native of Worcestershire, England, has spent the past two seasons (2019-21) at K-State, serving as the top assistant to head coach Jordan Smith and helping the Wildcats to 15 wins, including seven during the interrupted COVID-19 season of 2020-21. He also played a role in developing sophomore Karine-Marion Job and junior Maria Linares into All-Big 12 performers, which they earned as a doubles' tandem this past spring, along with Job being selected to the singles' team.
In addition, Rees was key in helping K-State secure a Top 25 recruiting class in 2021 from the Tennis Recruiting Network, which is the program's highest-ranked class since 2017.
"This is a fantastic hire for Incarnate Word and their women's tennis program," said Smith. "Tom is going to be fundamental in developing a winning culture for UIW in the Southland Conference. He will be a positive influence for the student-athletes, community, and all of Cardinal nation. This is a perfect fit and look forward to following his success for years to come."
This will be Rees' third head coaching assignment, following stints as the head men's and women's coach at a pair of Division II schools in Illinois-Springfield (2014-16) and Lenoir-Rhyne (2016-19).
In three seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Rees collected a 42-23 overall record as the men's coach, while he posted a 38-27 mark with the women's team. He guided both squads to program-best records in 2018-19, with the men going 18-4 while the women registered an 18-5 mark.
The Bears' record-breaking 2018-19 season saw the men's team earn their first-ever national ranking, ending the year at No. 20 in the Division II rankings, while also totaling the team's first appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinal. The women's team also earned their way into the semifinal round of the SAC Tournament for the first time in program history and finished the season at No. 33 nationally.
Prior to his time at Lenoir-Rhyne, Rees spent two seasons (2014-16) as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Illinois Springfield. While at UIS, he led the women's program to all-time best marks in each of his two seasons, including a record 11 wins in 2015-16, while the 13 wins by the men's team in 2015-16 marked the first .500-or-better season in the program's Division II era.
Rees completed his collegiate playing career at UNC Asheville, where he totaled 67 combined victories in his three seasons. He was the 2012 Big South Conference Flight No. 2 doubles champion and was a two-time Big South All-Academic Team honoree. He competed at Tusculum College as a freshman, going 12-12 and helping the Pioneers reach the South Atlantic Conference championship match and a No. 28 national ranking before transferring.
Upon the completion of his collegiate career, Rees went on to compete on the International Tennis Federation's professional circuit in Europe in 2012.
A certified USPTA Elite Professional Tennis Coach and Tennis Performance Trainer, Rees has worked as a travel coaching on the ATP tour with professional players Jose Statham and Marcos Giron.
Rees graduated from UNC Asheville in 2012 with a degree in French before earning his master's degree from North Georgia in public administration in 2014.
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