The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Howard Joffe named head women’s tennis coach at Texas
06.30.2015 | Women's Tennis
Eight-year head coaching veteran Howard Joffe led Texas A&M to Top-10 NCAA finishes the last three seasons.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Howard Joffe (JOFF-ee), who led the Texas A&M women's tennis program to Top-10 NCAA finishes the last three seasons, has been named the head women's tennis coach at The University of Texas. The announcement was made Tuesday by UT Women's Athletics Director Chris Plonsky. Joffe replaces Danielle Lund McNamara, who announced her resignation on June 3. Joffe will assume his head coaching duties at UT on July 9.
"I am enormously grateful to Chris Plonsky and Kathy Harston for allowing me this opportunity and trusting me to lead the Longhorns women's tennis program going forward," Joffe said. "This opportunity comes with a huge responsibility, but it's one that I'm excited about and eager to embrace. I'd like to pass along additional thanks to Steve Patterson for the chance to meet with him. Moving forward, it's clear that the vision for the Texas Longhorns is in good hands with Chris and Steve.
"There's a tradition of excellence within the women's tennis program here," Joffe continued, "not only in having won national and conference titles, but also in producing very fine athletes and students. I'm cognizant of the charge and the responsibility, but I'm very confident that I'll be able to work with the student athletes and the administration to continue that tradition of excellence."
Joffe comes to Austin after serving four seasons (2012-15) as the head women's tennis coach at Texas A&M. Joffe led the Aggies to a NCAA runner-up finish in 2013, round-of-16 finishes in 2014 and 2015 and a round-of-32 showing in 2012. Joffe produced an 83-23 (.783) overall record at Texas A&M and led the Aggies to a share of the Southeastern Conference regular season title in 2013. Three Aggies collected four ITA All-America honors, and A&M accumulated 10 all-conference selections during Joffe's tenure at A&M.
"We're extremely pleased to land a coach of Howard's character and caliber," Plonsky said. "He is a proven winner. Howard was a very competitive student-athlete himself. He was mentored by an exceptional coach, and after pursuing coaching himself, he has found it to be a perfect landscape for him. Howard is driven to excellence, cares about his student-athletes and is inspired by the combination of an institution with academic excellence and high goals for championship performance."
This season, Joffe's Aggies totaled a 17-6 overall record and defeated eventual NCAA champion Vanderbilt while compiling an 11-2 mark in SEC play. A&M reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships and ended the 2015 campaign with a No. 10 team ranking. Sophomore Saska Gavriloska became the third Aggie to earn ITA All-America honors in Joffe's four years at A&M.
Texas A&M registered a 21-7 overall record, which included a victory over NCAA finalist North Carolina, and a 10-3 mark in SEC play during a 2014 season in which Joffe was selected as the ITA Texas Region Coach of the Year. The Aggies reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships and finished with a No. 9 national ranking. Cristina Stancu became the second Aggie selected during Joffe's tenure as an ITA All-American and also was voted as the ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year.
In 2013, Joffe led the Aggies to new heights at the NCAA Championships and in the final ITA national rankings. Texas A&M made its first appearance in the finals of the NCAA Championships, where it suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Stanford. The Aggies finished with a program-best No. 3 national ranking and won a share of the SEC regular season title in their first year in the league. A&M posted a 26-4 record and a 12-1 mark in league play, during which the Aggies dealt Florida its first conference loss in four seasons. Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar earned her second ITA singles All-America selection in as many seasons and was voted as the ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year.
In his first season at A&M, Joffe led the Aggies to a 19-6 mark and a 7-2 tally in Big 12 Conference play. A&M reached the second round of the NCAA Championships, and Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar became Joffe's first ITA All-American.
Joffe served as the head women's tennis coach at Maryland for two seasons (2010-11) prior to his arrival at Texas A&M. Joffe led the Terrapins to wins over top-10 foes Virginia and Georgia Tech, and Maryland ascended to a program-best No. 20 national ranking during the 2011 season.
Joffe first served as a head coach during the 2008 and 2009 seasons at Miami (Ohio). Joffe took the Redhawks to the NCAA Championships for the first time, and Miami earned its first national team ranking during Joffe's tenure.
Joffe served for five seasons (2003-07) as an assistant women's tennis coach at USC before assuming his first head coaching position at Miami. The ITA twice selected Joffe as the West Region Assistant Coach of the Year (2004 and 2006). Joffe finished as the runner-up for ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006. USC notched top-11 national finishes in each of Joffe's five seasons.
A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Joffe was ranked as high as No. 2 among the South African junior tennis ranks. Joffe played three seasons of collegiate tennis (1990-92) at Pepperdine and helped the Waves to three consecutive West Coast Conference titles. In 1992, he earned ITA singles All-America honors and reached the singles semifinals at the NCAA Championships.
Joffe played professional tennis from 1992-95 and ranked among the world's top-450 in singles and doubles. He relocated to South Africa in 1995 and helped establish the Joffe-Wheeler Tennis Academy in Johannesburg. Joffe served as the head tennis coach at Rand Afrikaanse University in 1997 and coached the Gauteng Central JuniorTennis Team in 1998 before returning to the United States in 1999.
Joffe served as the Director of Tennis at Kettering Tennis Center/Quail, Inc. (Dayton, Ohio) from 1999-2001 before entering the coaching ranks at USC in 2002.
Joffe completed his undergraduate work at USC and earned a bachelor's in psychology in 2006. He became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
HOWARD JOFFE: YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS AS A HEAD COACH
TEXAS A&M Season Overall Record NCAA Finish Final Ranking League Finish 2015 17-6 Round of 16 10 T-2nd 2014 21-7 Round of 16 9 5th 2013 26-4 Runner-up 3 T-1st 2012 19-6 Round of 32 17 T-2nd MARYLAND Season Overall Record NCAA Finish Final Ranking League Finish 2011 13-10 Round of 64 34 T-9th 2010 5-14 -- -- 12th MIAMI (OHIO) Season Overall Record NCAA Finish Final Ranking League Finish 2009 16-7 Round of 64 70 1st 2008 14-7 -- -- 2nd
