University of Delaware Athletics
Former Delaware Men's Tennis Standout Chris Hincker Tabbed Program's Head Coach
8/28/2014 4:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware Director of Athletics Eric Ziady announced Wednesday the hiring of Chris Hincker as the new head coach of the men's tennis program, effective immediately.
Hincker joins the Blue Hens as the men's and women's tennis programs split into two separate teams instead of one combined squad. Laura Travis, who posted a 217-179 (.548) record in 21 years as the men's coach, will continue to serve as the head coach of the women's tennis program.
“I am both excited and humbled to have the opportunity to take charge of a program that I feel so passionately about,” exclaimed Hincker. “It is my responsibility to help our student-athletes excel in every aspect of their lives, athletically, academically, and socially. This is something I take very seriously.”
“Chris is an example of someone who utilized and maximized his opportunity as a Delaware student-athlete,” commented Ziady. “He will be a great example by which our men's tennis team can relate as they develop as athletes, as students, and as citizens in the community.”
“Chris is a highly intelligent young man with high-level NCAA Division I playing and teaching experience,” stated Travis. “He is passionate about tennis, has strong communication skills and, as a bonus, has a fun personality to be around. He understands the big picture of being a student-athlete. This is an exciting time for Delaware tennis.”
Hincker will be just the third coach in the past 62 years of Blue Hens men's tennis and the 12th coach overall in the 100 year-plus history of the program.
“Having a head coach for each tennis program will best allow us to provide the structure, guidance, teaching, and leadership that each of our teams deserve on a more consistent and effective basis,” Ziady said.
“This is another major milestone in the journey to move our tennis programs forward,” remarked Travis, who is in her 23rd season as the women's tennis head coach at her alma mater. "At one point having one head coach for both teams made sense due to competition schedules. Within the last five years or so, there has been a rapid increase in competition at the NCAA Division I level, thus causing many programs to revamp the 'one coach for both teams' model and separating into two individual squads, which is what they really are.
"I am elated for Chris as he begins this next step in his career," continued Travis. “With the parting of the programs, each team will now have their own head coach who can be at all competitions as well as develop and recruit for the unique needs of each squad.
"I am forever grateful to former administrators Mary Ann Hitchens and Edgar Johnson, who brought me on board as a rookie coach and one of the few females in the country to coach men more than 20 years ago," said Travis. "I am also thankful to our Athletics Director, Eric Ziady, who had the foresight to understand the need for this coaching model change; to our program administrator, Stacey Bunting-Thompson, for her advocacy and help throughout the process; to our administration and support teams for all their efforts in making this a reality; and to our assistant coach, Vince Maximo, who is the glue that makes both programs run.”
As a student-athlete and team captain, Hincker finished third all-time in UD history with a career singles record of 69-33 before graduating as a Blue Hen with magna cum laude honors in June, 2011. He holds the freshman single-season singles wins record after posting a mark of 19-8 during the 2007-08 campaign. Hincker is also second all-time, alongside Courtney Scott, with a career doubles team mark of 41-21.
Off the court, Hincker was a 1743 Distinguished Scholar and a member of the CAA Academic Honor Roll in addition to representing the men's tennis program as a member of the Delaware Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Hincker graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise physiology. He holds strong ties to the Delaware community as he previously served as a tennis professional and head fitness trainer at RAW Tennis and Fitness in Wilmington, Del. Hincker is a USPTA certified tennis professional and NASM certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist.
A native of Roanoke, Va., Hincker will be one of six University of Delaware alumni to currently serve as a Blue Hen head coach joining Travis, Scott Grzenda (women's soccer), Mike Keogh (men's golf), Kateri Linville (women's lacrosse), and Jim Sherman (baseball).
“I'm ready to hit the ground running with my guys,” stated Hincker. “I'm new, the team is young, and I think we have a real opportunity in front of us. Whenever taking on a new position, there is a learning curve and I'm very pleased to have Laura and Vince beside me to help ease the transition.”
Hincker will guide the Blue Hens for the first time as they begin their journey Sept. 5-7 at the Navy Invitational.
