TCNJ’S DICHECK NAMED USTA’S COACH OF THE YEAR FOR NEW JERSEY

Media Release

Ewing, NJ – The College of New Jersey’s head men’s and women’s tennis coach, Scott Dicheck, photo, has been tapped as the Coach of the Year for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) New Jersey for 2007. Now in his eighth season as the coach of both the women’s and men’s teams at the College, Dicheck has directed the programs to considerable success, including a trio of All-Americans in 2007.

On the 2007 year, Dicheck helped the Lion women’s team earn an NCAA Division III Tournament bid in May, capping a 15-2 season. During the fall of 2007, the women’s team reeled off the program’s 25th consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship after winning their 121st consecutive NJAC dual match win. Since the fall of 1982, the women’s tennis team is a perfect 121-0 in NJAC dual meet competition. In addition to the NJAC dominance, Dicheck’s success as coach included guiding Jackie Shtemberg (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) to a program first as the sophomore became the College’s first player to win the prestigious ITA National Small College National Singles Championship in October. She teamed in doubles play with senior Christina Contrafatto (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) to also earn ITA All-America honors in doubles play.

Dicheck’s success has not been limited to just the women’s program at the College. Last spring, the Lion men’s team finished with an 11-3 mark and also had representation at the 2007 NCAA Division III Team Championships as well as the 2007 NCAA Division III Doubles Championships. The fall of 2007 saw TCNJ’s men’s singles performer, senior tri-captain Mike Klimchak (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) became an ITA All-American after his performance at the ITA National Small College Singles Championships in Alabama.

On the 2007-08 seasons, TCNJ’s teams are both nationally ranked. The Lion men are currently 7-3 and ranked 20th in Division III, while the women’s team is 10-5 and ranked 27th in Division III. Dicheck owns a women’s coaching record of 96-28, while boasting a record o 69-36 during the same time frame with the men’s program for a combined collegiate record at TCNJ of 165-64.