Garry steps down as Pacific women’s tennis coach

After rebuilding the program Sandy Garry would like to spend more time focusing on her own playing career

By Blake Timm

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 21, 2010

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After leading the Pacific women’s tennis program to its most successful seasons in two decades, Sandy Garry believes now is the time for someone else to take the next serve.

Garry announced her resignation as the Boxers’ head coach last week. During her tenure, Pacific succeeded in transforming the Pacific women’s tennis program from a perennial last-place finisher to a two-time invitee to the Northwest Conference postseason tournament and a fourth-place conference finish in 2009.

Pacific Director of Athletics Ken Schumann said that Garry indicated a desire to free up her schedule from the day-to-day operation of the program and to be able to focus more on playing tennis. She continues to be an active player on the local club and United States Tennis Association scene.

“Sandy has worked hard over the past five years to build our women’s tennis program into a competitive program, and she has been successful in doing so,” Schumann said. “In fact, the change in the quality of the program during Sandy’s tenure here has been dramatic. I want to express my sincerest thanks to Sandy for all of her great work.”

Garry joined Pacific in 2005 after spending 10 years as the head girls’ tennis coach at nearby Westview High School. A tenacious re-building and recruiting effort finally paid off in 2009 when the Boxers shocked the conference with a 7-9 NWC regular season mark, tying for fifth in the standings to earn their first trip to the NWC Tournament in four seasons.

The success did not stop there. The Boxers went on to take a 6-3 victory over Lewis & Clark in the first round, their first tournament victory since 1999. The Boxers finished the tourney fourth, the team’s best finish since 1983 when Pacific played as part of the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges.

The season ended with the selection of two players to the All-Northwest Conference Team. Cat Goya was named to the First Team and teammate Megan Yoshimoto was named to the Second Team, both as freshmen.

Pacific returned to the NWC Tournament in 2010, finishing sixth in the regular season and sixth in the tournament. Goya and Yoshimoto repeated as All-NWC selections.

A search is under way for a replacement. Schumann said Garry would remain available to assist in the transition until a new coach is hired.