DURHAM, N.C. – Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree has announced the hiring of Tom Schrecengost as the new head women’s tennis coach and coordinator of tennis operations at North Carolina Central University effective Sept. 1.
"I am pleased to have Coach Schrecengost join our team,” said Wicker-McCree. “He has a wealth of experience and success as a head coach and we look forward to him continuing this success here at NCCU."
Schrecengost comes to NCCU after spending the last seven years as head men’s and women’s tennis coach at in-state Barton College. He has a total of 17 years of head coaching experience within the Carolinas having spent eight years at Mars Hill University and two seasons at Erskine College.
“I am so grateful to the members of the search committee and Dr. Wicker-McCree for giving me this wonderful opportunity,” said Schrecengost. “I have already felt a tremendous amount of support as I begin the transition to a new phase in my coaching career.”
Schrecengost will be taking over a Lady Eagles’ tennis program that went 9-15 last season and returns a three-time all-conference performer in Aissa Muamba atop the lineup.
In his role as coordinator of tennis operations at NCCU, Schrecengost will be assisting with the operational responsibilities of both the men’s and women’s tennis programs.
“I am very impressed with many things about NCCU,” stated Schrecengost. “There is obvious commitment to both academics and athletics here. I am excited about the student-athletes I will be entrusted with and look forward to helping them grow on and off the court. The present and future is very bright for women's tennis at NCCU.”
Schrecengost’s tenure at Barton was successful, in which he coached 18 total all-conference honorees including the 2010 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and the 2014 Freshman of the Year. He built up both programs into regional contenders qualifying for postseason play five times.
The veteran coach guided the Lady Bulldogs to three consecutive 10-win seasons and the men’s team to the finals of the 2014 Conference Carolinas Tournament.
Schrecengost mentored his Barton tennis teams into becoming complete student-athletes. Both of his programs earned the Conference Carolinas Team Sportsmanship Award during his tenure and they each were recognized numerous times for both team and individual academic excellence.
In his time at Mars Hill, Schrecengost took his men’s team to the NCAA Tournament and set a program record in wins with 16 on the women’s side.
Schrecengost was the President's Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player in 1987 while playing for the Grove City College tennis team. He transferred to the University of South Florida, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education (K-8) in 1991. He earned his Master's Degree of Physical Education in 1997 from Northwestern State University in Louisiana.