MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama Director of Athletics Joe Gottfried announced Friday afternoon that Nick Brochu (pronounced Bro-shoe) has been hired to lead the nationally-ranked Jaguar men’s tennis program.
“We are pleased and excited to hire Nick (Brochu) as our new men’s tennis coach,” said Gottfried. “He brings a successful background with him to USA.”
Brochu comes to USA after spending the past five seasons as head coach at Georgia State University. This past season, the Panthers enjoyed one of the program’s best seasons, capturing the Colonial Athletic Association conference championship and finishing the season with a 19-5 record. GSU climbed as high as 33rd nationally during the spring, which was the highest ranking the school had ever achieved. The 19 wins were also a school record and the final ranking of No. 36 was the third highest ranking GSU had ever had at a season’s end. The Panthers advanced to the NCAA Tournament, but fell to Auburn in the first round.
“I am very excited to come to South Alabama,” said Brochu. “USA has a great history and has been an excellent program for the past 15 years. I am looking forward to the challenge of maintaining its past success and taking the program further.”
During Brochu’s tenure at Georgia State, the Quebec, Canada native coached one Conference Player of the Year and three Conference Rookies of the Year. Eight of his former players have also been nationally ranked, including Martin Stiegwardt (72nd) this past season, and 10 have earned first team all-conference honors during his time a Georgia State. In 2007, Stiegwardt also became the first Panther to advance to the NCAA Singles Championships.
Prior to taking over the reigns, Brochu served the Panthers as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2002 spring season and helped guide GSU to the Atlantic Sun Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
During his three-year playing career at GSU, Brochu was a member of three-straight A-Sun Championship teams (1998 to 2000). Brochu also also earned all-conference recognition in 1999 and 2000 and was ranked as high as No. 31 nationally in the NCAA rankings along with doubles partner Karl Lindberg. While at GSU, he was also a member of two NCAA Tournament teams (1999 and 2000).
After graduating in 2000 with a bachelor’s in finance, Brochu played professionally on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour for two years. As a professional, Brochu won Future Events, one satellite series event and had many great results in Challengers. Brochu also played in a Tennis Master Series and was ranked in the ATP doubles top 500.
Brochu also holds a master’s degree in sports administration-marketing that he earned in 2004 at GSU.
USA ended the season ranked 27th in the nation this past season after finishing with a 22-5 record and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
