Former Head Coach Olga Elkin poses with Athletic Director Allen Ward at the OVC Championships April 19 in Paducah, Ky.
Murray State’s women’s tennis team will start its campaign to repeat as OVC champs by searching for a new coach.
Head Coach Olga Elkin resigned just days before the 2014 fall semester kicked off. She is moving north to become coach of the women’s tennis team at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Elkin came to Murray State after coaching two years at Kennesaw University.
Elkin leaves Murray State with an overall career record of 27-15. Under her leadership the Racers made an NCAA Tournament appearance and won both OVC regular season and conference championships.
The highly successful women’s tennis team finished the 2013-14 season strong, winning the OVC Championships April 19. The Racers had an impressive 7-1 record at home last season and 7-4 record while away.
Murray State Athletic Director Allen Ward announced plans to name an interim coach as soon as possible. Despite this minor setback, Ward said the team is and will continue to be resilient in a statement on goracers.com.
“I’m appreciative of what Coach Elkin accomplished at Murray State, but at the same time disappointed in the timing of this announcement,” Ward said. “It’s my goal to name an interim coach as soon as possible. I’m going to provide every opportunity for this team to put this matter behind them and focus on making the upcoming season just as memorable as the last one.”
With many of players returning to defend their championship title, Ward’s search for an interim coach has already begun. The Racers will practice hard as they prepare for their upcoming season.
(Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Elkin’s new university. It is Bowling Green State University in Ohio).
Story by Laura Kovarik, Staff writer