Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WTEN | New Assistant Nick Combs Joins Gaels Staff
8/18/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Women's Tennis is excited to announce Nick Combs as the new Assistant Coach. Combs is no stranger to Saint Mary's, having played on the Men's Tennis team from 2016-2020 before moving to coaching where he spent last season as the Men's Assistant Coach.
As the Assistant Coach to Greg Kennett last season, Combs helped lead SMC Men's Tennis to their first WCC tournament appearance since 2013. This year, he joins Coach Katharina Winterhalter as the assistant to the women's program.
"I'm so grateful to Coach Kennett for taking me under his wing last year and I'm very humbled to have the opportunity to continue coaching college tennis working alongside the women's team under Coach Winterhalter," Combs said. "I love this school and I'm honored to represent it"
Before becoming a part of college tennis, Combs gained experience as an associate tennis professional at Orinda Country Club, where he collaborated with Tyler Browne, the former associate head coach of the University of California Berkeley. In addition, he actively participated on the board of a local nonprofit named "Rally4Reading." This organization is dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of tennis for underprivileged youth within the broader Oakland area.
The Gaels run in Combs' family, as both his grandfather and great-grandfather attended Saint Mary's. During his senior season with the Gaels, Combs played in one doubles match, and following the season he was also named a WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention as a Business Administration major.
Combs will be a huge asset to the Women's Team this season, both with his playing experience and his coaching tactics he's developed at SMC. The Gaels will hit the courts later this fall as they'll compete in multiple tournaments before the regular season officially starts up again in the spring.
As the Assistant Coach to Greg Kennett last season, Combs helped lead SMC Men's Tennis to their first WCC tournament appearance since 2013. This year, he joins Coach Katharina Winterhalter as the assistant to the women's program.
"I'm so grateful to Coach Kennett for taking me under his wing last year and I'm very humbled to have the opportunity to continue coaching college tennis working alongside the women's team under Coach Winterhalter," Combs said. "I love this school and I'm honored to represent it"
Before becoming a part of college tennis, Combs gained experience as an associate tennis professional at Orinda Country Club, where he collaborated with Tyler Browne, the former associate head coach of the University of California Berkeley. In addition, he actively participated on the board of a local nonprofit named "Rally4Reading." This organization is dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of tennis for underprivileged youth within the broader Oakland area.
The Gaels run in Combs' family, as both his grandfather and great-grandfather attended Saint Mary's. During his senior season with the Gaels, Combs played in one doubles match, and following the season he was also named a WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention as a Business Administration major.
Combs will be a huge asset to the Women's Team this season, both with his playing experience and his coaching tactics he's developed at SMC. The Gaels will hit the courts later this fall as they'll compete in multiple tournaments before the regular season officially starts up again in the spring.
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