Andrew Girard

Head Tennis Coach

Andrew Girard is in his fifth year as head coach of the men's tennis program at Carnegie Mellon University. The 29-year-old brings with him an impressive combination of tennis experience, energy, and enthusiasm that he believes will help lead the school into a new era of expectation and achievement.

"We are raising the bar for Carnegie Mellon tennis both on and off the court," Girard said. "Every year I will expect us to be one of the top 25 Division III teams in the country, and equally important, to receive team and individual Academic All-America accolades."

In the 2006-07 season, the team was ranked as high as #11 nationally, finishing at #18, marking the third straight year the team has cracked the top 25. Freshmen Nikola Ljuboja and James Muliawan finished seventh at the ITA Nationals Doubles Championship, starting their careers as All-Americans. Including the women's program, Girard has now coached 11 players to All-America status.

In the fall of 2005 the men's team earned a national ranking of 22 after three members advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA Regional Championships held in October. A doubles team also advanced to the semifinals of the tournament. The Tartans were first ranked in 2004 when they entered the poll at 23.

Under Girard's tutelage, Carnegie Mellon has advanced to the NCAA Team Championship twice (2004, 2005), being the only times in school history the men's team has advanced to the NCAA's. Girard coached the 2005 University Athletic Association Rookie of the Year, Andrew Clearfield, and holds an overall record of 49-35 in dual matches. In 2006 Girard was named Coach of the Year while the men's team finished a school-high 3rd in the UAA.

The men's team has also earned numerous off the court honors over the last four seasons, being named an ITA All-Academic Team each year. A total of 23 players were honored as ITA Scholar Athletes, among the highest totals for Division III during that time.

Girard came to Carnegie Mellon from Northern Michigan University, where he served as an assistant for their nationally ranked women's tennis team. While at NMU, the team qualified for the Division II National Championship and reached the round of 16. NMU was ranked as high as #24 in the country and #2 in the Midwest region.

In addition to collegiate coaching experience, Girard has had extensive work with junior tennis development. He has been in charge of the junior tennis programs in Marquette, Michigan, for the last twelve summers. He also served as an assistant coach for the Marquette Senior High School boys tennis team for six seasons, and in each of those seasons the team won the Upper Peninsula State Championship.

Girard played his collegiate tennis for Michigan Technological University. While at MTU, he was named to the all-conference team three times, and was named the team MVP for the 1999-2000 season, the year in which the team compiled the most victories in the program's fifty year history. Girard is among the school's all-time leaders in singles and doubles wins. A two-time Academic All-America selection, he finished with a 4.00 GPA and received a bachelor's degree from MTU in biological sciences. Girard later returned and received an education degree, and spent a year at Marquette Senior High School as a teacher of both chemistry and AP chemistry.

Office Phone Number: 412-268-5179

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