Bernstein Selected to Guide Women's Tennis Program
8/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan director of athletics Bill Martin announced Thursday (Aug. 9) the hiring of Ronni Bernstein as head women's tennis coach. Bernstein replaces Amanda Augustus, who resigned her position after one season to take the head coaching job at the University of California on July 20. Bernstein becomes the eighth head coach in the 34-year history of the U-M women's tennis program.
"We are delighted to name Ronni Bernstein as the new leader of our women's tennis program," said Martin. "Ronni is one of most respected coaches in college tennis, and we'd like to welcome the entire Bernstein family to the Michigan family. We're excited to watch as Ronni takes our program to new heights on both the conference and national levels."
Bernstein arrives in Ann Arbor after a decorated 10-year head coaching career at Florida International University (Miami, Fla.) from 1997-2007. The winningest and longest-tenured head coach in the history of the FIU women's tennis program, Bernstein compiled a career record of 165-71 (.699) as the leader of the Golden Panthers. She guided Florida International to the Sun Belt Conference tournament title in each of her final three seasons, and FIU earned a bid to the NCAA Championship in five of her final seven years at the helm. The four-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year had her most successful campaign in 2000-01, when the Golden Panthers finished with a program-best 23-3 record and made their first-ever NCAA appearance.
"First of all, I would like to thank Bill Martin, Mike Stevenson, and especially Bitsy Ritt for their confidence in me leading the women's tennis program at Michigan," said Bernstein. "Bitsy has shown a tremendous belief in me leading the very program that she coached for 22 years, and for that I am very appreciative. I am truly excited to become a part of the Michigan family. I accepted this position because I think Michigan has the complete package and that the tennis program can be one of the nation's elite programs.
"While I am honored to be offered this job, it is also a bittersweet day for me," continued Bernstein. "I will truly miss the FIU family, especially my student-athletes who are currently on the team. They are the main reason for my success as a coach and the reason I am in this position at Michigan. I wish them the best and I know that they will continue the tradition that we have set on FIU's campus.
"Lastly, I look forward very much to meeting each of my new players at Michigan and to this new challenge in my life."
A native of Miami, Bernstein spent two seasons as the assistant/associate head coach at Florida International (1995-97) before accepting the head coaching position in May of 1997. She joined the FIU coaching staff in August of 1995 after a four-year stint as a tennis instructor at the prestigious Coral Oaks Tennis Club in Miami.
Bernstein was a four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American in both singles and doubles during her illustrious collegiate career at the University of Miami (Fla.) from 1984-88. She was crowned as the NCAA Senior Player of the Year after reaching the doubles final and the singles semifinals at the 1988 NCAA Championship. During her sophomore campaign, Bernstein teamed with Lise Gregory to post a perfect 29-0 record en route to the 1986 NCAA doubles title. Bernstein finished her collegiate career with impressive records of 103-21 in singles and 89-11 in doubles.
After receiving her bachelor's degree in business management from Miami in 1988, Bernstein enjoyed a successful professional playing career on the Women's Tennis Association Tour (WTA). She achieved career-high world rankings of No. 78 in singles and No. 30 in doubles, claiming Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors for Domino's Team Tennis in 1989. Bernstein captured the 1987 and '89 Virginia Slims of Puerto Rico doubles championship and the Virginia Slims of Aptos, Calif., doubles crown.
Bernstein returned to the collegiate ranks in 1990, when she served as an assistant coach at Arizona State University for one season. That year, the Sun Devils posted an overall record of 19-10 and finished ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Among her other credits, Bernstein claimed the doubles gold medal at the 1985 Pan American Games and won the doubles bronze medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games. She was also named by Tennis Magazine as a member of its Collegiate All-Star team in 1986, '87 and '88 as well as being selected to the USTA Junior Foundation Cup team those same years. In 1985, she was a triple gold medalist at the Maccabiah Games in Israel. In 2000, she was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Bernstein and her husband, Morty, have three children: Max (9), Jake (5) and Hannah (4).
Bernstein will make her U-M head coaching debut Sept. 28-30, when Michigan hosts the ninth annual Wolverine Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Center. U-M, which finished at 17-8 and reached the second round of the NCAA Championship last year, returns five letterwinners and welcomes four incoming recruits for the 2007-08 season.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
