San Francisco, CA -- The Academy of Art University Athletics Department and Director of Athletics Dr. Jamie Williams are pleased to announce the hiring of Jerry Peach as the new head coach for the Urban Knights women's tennis team.
“Coach Jerry Peach takes our tennis program to an entirely new level with his experience and passion for collegiate athletics,” Dr. Williams said. “His former athletes were tremendous academics under his watch, as education is always part of his plan. I am honored that he has brought his Obi-Wan wisdom to our young Jedi Academy!”
A coach with extensive experience in NCAA Division I and II tennis, Peach comes to ART U well equipped for the job. Peach previously spent 13 years as the head coach for men's and women's tennis at Montana State University – Billings, helping lead the women's team to 92 wins and the men's team to 58 wins. Prior to joining MSUB in January of 1997, Peach spent 23 years coaching both squads at Montana State University in Bozeman. As a coach, Peach has earned numerous honors which include ITA/USTA National and Regional Coach of the Year, Big Sky Conference (BSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Coach of the Year, and a USTA National Top Ten Award.
“I want to thank Dr. Williams for trusting the coaching leadership role in me,” Coach Peach said. “I feel ready for the task and will do what we need to do each day to be the best we can. The West Region of Division II tennis is increasing in its toughness and we will have to be a little better each day. This is my plan, however, as we strive to improve one percent each week. Our work ethic will be very strong. The girls, the department, and the Academy of Art will be proud of us!”
Coach Peach's various teams consistently placed among the top three in both the BSC and RMAC with several team championships to their names. Led by singles and doubles champions, his women's teams in particular excelled as they enjoyed first place finishes in each conference with a two-time RMAC Player of the Year, NCAA Regional Champion, and a NCAA National Sweet 16 participant from his MSUB team.
Throughout his tenure, Peach has coached athletes who have achieved tremendous recognition both on the court and in the classroom. There have been Division II and Division I women's players who have qualified and placed in the NCAA Tournament. His women's tennis teams sported a stretch of 16 consecutive semesters of 3.5 and above with one of those squads posting a 4.0 team GPA for an entire year. Two of his athletes, one in men's tennis and one in women's, earned NCAA Post-Graduate scholarships, a distinction only bestowed to three percent of graduating student-athletes across all NCAA divisions.
Recently, Peach has continued to upgrade the level of youth playing tennis in America through his involvement in the USTA High Performance Program. He is also currently finishing an instructional book about tennis entitled
I Know Less Today Than I Thought I Knew Yesterday. Peach, eager to resume his work on the court, begins as the head women's tennis coach at Academy of Art University effective immediately.
"I see potential in everyone,” Coach Peach said. “My practices are upbeat and meant to excite the kids about tennis, themselves, the team, and the collegiate opportunity to play. There is a fine line between providing the kids with a good time and requiring them to work hard on court. I try to walk that line all the time, being aware of each player on the team who has a certain button to be pushed for the benefit of us all. The Academy of Art team has such a tremendous future. The uniqueness of the school cannot be overstated. Players who come here are special; they are artists. Each day will be a challenge and, as the new coach on the block, I am really eager to see how we do!”
