Coach adjusts to new role on tennis team

There are many important parts to any team, from players to trainers and specifically, coaches. This was evident last year when newly-hired assistant coach Matt Pledger had to fill the shoes of IU coach Ken Hydinger, who was on administrative leave last season for medical reasons. \nPledger, who had been hired in the fall of 2002, was put in charge of a Big Ten school in his first year and guided it to a 12-11 record. On top of winning the first seven matches, Pledger led the team to a national ranking of No. 21. \nThroughout last season, Pledger was presented with the challenge of coaching a young team on his own in his first year. \nWith all the challenges he faced, the team just missed out on the NCAA tournament and was able to do a good job, Hydinger said. \n"I think he (Pledger) really enjoyed it and did it well," Hydinger said. "He is still young enough that he can play with the guys and have the ability to get a great feel for their game, and he's done a good job with that."\nThough it was his first year at the helm, Pledger had been considering coaching from the time he was an All-American player at Mississippi State.\nWhile at MSU, he was exposed to a winning tradition, advancing to the NCAA semi-finals one year and the quarterfinals the other three.\nBefore coaching, Pledger talked to many coaches around the country to get a feel for what college coaching involved, he said.\n"Playing college tennis and being part of those teams was the greatest experience in my life up to that point," Pledger said. "I wish I could still play, but being able to come out here and contribute as a coach with this team is something very important to me."\nIn early September 2003, Pledger was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach. With it came head coaching responsibilities as Pledger assisted Hydinger with many tasks.\nWith Pledger, IU has a coach that not only established himself in college, but also played professionally. He played from 1997 to 2000 and achieved a doubles ranking of No. 256 in the world.\nHaving Pledger as a member of the Hoosier coaching staff is major plus for many reasons, junior Ryan Recht said.\n"It's great having him on the staff," Recht said. "He's a good person to begin with and on top of that, a very good player and he can coach."\nWith the changing of roles, Pledger now has more time to work with players. \nOne of the things Pledger does now with the team is prepare it for the upcoming matches. Because of Pledger's versatility, he can play contrasting styles of tennis, allowing the players to develop different parts of their game.\nComing with the changed role has been the ability to establish closer bonds with the players, Pledger said.\n"Last year when I was head coach I wasn't able to be a buddy with them, I had to be hard on them," Pledger said. "Now I've been able to develop relationships with the guys, and we've come pretty close, and I enjoy the opportunity to help them out and be a friend when things are tough."\nWith the head coach and associate head coach together, IU is in the hunt for a NCAA tournament berth.\n"Both roles are very important," Pledger said. "But after having to do both last year, it's nice knowing that I only have one this year."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.