Colin Purcell Joins Men's Tennis Staff
November 13, 2007 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 13, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's tennis coach Rex Ecarma has announced that Colin Purcell has joined the staff as a volunteer assistant.
"I am proud to announce the addition of Colin Purcell to our Men's Tennis Coaching staff as volunteer assistant coach," said Ecarma. "Colin was the top junior player in Kentucky in high school and one of the top in the Southern USA. He also was ranked among the top 30 nationally. He helped the University of Georgia reach the NCAA Tournament finals his senior year and was named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player."
Purcell, a Louisville native (St. Xavier HS) is a 2006 graduate of the University of Georgia. During his senior year, he was the team co-captain and was an integral part of team as the Southeastern Conference champion Bulldogs went undefeated in the dual match season, entered the NCAA tournament as the nation's top-ranked and No. 1 seeded team and finished runner-up in the NCAA team championship. The 2006 Bulldogs also won the 2006 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championship.
During his senior season, Purcell compiled a 20-5 overall singles record, going 21-1 in dual matches and winning 20 straight matches to close the season. Along the way, he also earned All-SEC second team honors after going 11-0 in league matches and was named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Purcell also combined with teammate Strahinja Bobusic to go 26-10 in doubles (16-5 dual) and was ranked as high as No. 20 in the ITA doubles rankings, advancing to the round of 16 in the NCAA Doubles Championship. In 2005, the team of Purcell and Bobusic won the Southeast Region Doubles Championship.
Prior to his time at Georgia, Purcell played two years (2003-04) at the University of Miami, where he posted a 38-24 overall singles record and went 21-15.
"We aspire to be in the NCAA finals in the future and it helps having someone on board who has played in one," said Ecarma. "Colin seems to really enjoy my players and they respect him. I have given Colin an opportunity to influence and teach a group of special young men and an opportunity to get back into high level collegiate tennis. This will help him develop his communication and leadership skill which he will need if he wants to make coaching a profession."
The Cardinals will open the 2008 spring season on January 18 against Northwestern at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.
