JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - University of North Florida Director of Athletics Dr. Richard Gropper announced on Monday that assistant tennis coach Rodrigo Puebla has been promoted to head women's tennis coach, effective immediately.
Puebla has served as the men's and women's tennis assistant coach under head men's tennis coach Igal Buberman since November 2006. In 2008, Puebla worked closely with the women's team, where he helped lead the Lady Ospreys to an 8-3 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference, which was good for third place.
"Rodrigo Puebla has demonstrated, as our assistant coach, his ability to lead our women's tennis program over the course of the last two years," Gropper said. "He is an excellent recruiter, has done a good job of overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the program and has maintained outstanding, positive relationships with the young women on the squad."
Puebla came to UNF after spending the 2005-06 season as an assistant coach with the UTEP women's program. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant coach for Columbus State (Ga.) when both CSU and UNF were members of the Peach Belt Conference in NCAA Division II.
Prior to arriving at CSU, he spent two seasons on the staff at Pikeville (Ky.) College. As the head women's coach, he led the Lady Bears to a No. 7 final ranking and was named NAIA Region XII and Mid- South Conference Coach of the Year in 2003. Pikeville captured back-to-back conference tournament titles in 2002 and 2003. He also served as an assistant for the men's program.