Aug. 16, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Nik DeVore has resigned as head coach of the men's tennis program, Loyola Marymount Athletics announced Thursday. DeVore leaves the program after six years on the bluff.

DeVore has been named the Albert G. Molloy Head Coach of Men's Tennis at the University of Pennsylvania.

He heads to the Ivy League with a career record of 140-98, including an 85-62 mark in his six seasons at LMU.

"I want to thank Bill Husak and Betty Werner for giving me the opportunity to build the program here at LMU over the past six years," DeVore said. "It was a very tough decision because the program is heading in a great direction, and we have a great group of guys on our roster. The administrators in athletics and student life, as well as the coaching staff, have been very supportive over the years, and great people to work with."

In 2001, DeVore inherited an LMU program that had just five winning seasons to its name. Since then, DeVore had the Lions averaging nearly 15 wins a season with three finishes among the top half of the competitive West Coast Conference.

In DeVore's first season at the helm, the Lions finished 20-6 overall, including 14-0 at home. LMU defeated then-57th-ranked Santa Clara for third place in the WCC that season, capping the most successful year in LMU men's tennis history. For his efforts, first-year Head Coach DeVore was named 2001-02 WCC Coach of the Year.

DeVore and his wife, Alyssa, a New York native, will relocate to Philadelphia after his post at LMU concludes August 27.

"LMU is a very special place, and I will take a lot of great memories with me," DeVore said. "The opportunity to coach at Penn, and in the Ivy League, was one that Alyssa and I just couldn't pass up. I will always be a fan of LMU Athletics, and look forward to seeing the programs continue to excel and win championships."

LMU Athletics has begun a search for a new head coach of men's tennis.

-GO LIONS-