LARAMIE, Wyo. (May 23, 2017) – University of Wyoming Athletics announced that head women’s tennis coach Dean Clower has received a three-year contract extension that will run through May of 2020.
“Coach Clower has done a tremendous job building our women’s tennis program,” Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations Bill Sparks said. “He has been able to recruit student-athletes from a wide range of countries and cultures and focus them toward success on the court as well as the classroom. To help support his team’s efforts, he has done an outstanding job of developing positive relationships with the local tennis community. Those efforts most definitely show when you see the impressive number of people that attend both the home and away events to cheer on their Cowgirls. Under his leadership, the Cowgirl Tennis program has become well respected throughout the MW Conference, regionally and nationally. We are excited with the possibilities that are ahead for Cowgirl Tennis and are very happy that he will be the person leading this program.”
During the 2017 spring season, the squad went 18-4 overall and undefeated in league play to claim the Mountain Division title. The 18 wins was a program best and the 5-0 conference mark and the second time in school history the program recorded that mark. It's the seventh straight season the Cowgirls have recorded double-digits wins. Two doubles teams were ranked during the season for the first time ever. The team went a perfect 10-0 at home and at one point recorded a nine-match winning streak. Four individuals were selected All-Conference and two doubles teams were ranked during the season. Senior Dorottya Jonas and junior Magdalena Stencel were selected to the All-Conference singles team, while sophomores Elisa Koonik and Tessa van Der Ploeg were named First Team All-Conference in doubles play. Wyoming went 1-1 at the 2017 Mountain West Tennis Championships beating Nevada before falling to the top-seeded UNLV Lady Rebels in the semifinals.
“I am very thankful and appreciative for the loyalty and support the athletics department has shown me over my tenure here at UW,” said Clower. “The extension just shows how invested the athletic department is to the tennis program and the longevity of what we are doing here. I want to thank Tom (Burman), Matt (Whisenant), and Bill Sparks for the support over the years. Without the support from the administration we wouldn’t be able to do what we have been doing. Also, I can’t think of a better place to raise my family. Wyoming is a place that fits our family culture, it fits us.”
Finishing his sixth season at the helm, Clower has an overall mark of 79-50 and a 26-9 record in league play. He is the all-time winningest coach in school history. At least two individuals have earned All-Conference honors in each of his six years including this season.
“Last, I want to thank Maciej (Bogusz) and Ewa (Szatkowska). When I got the job 6 years ago those two were the first people I called who I wanted to help me on the journey in climbing to the top of the Mountain West. It is not possible to have a successful program without having successful people around at all times. Without a doubt we wouldn’t even be close to where we are without the two of them. Having Maciej next to me isn’t having an assistant on the court next to me; it’s having a partner who thinks ahead at all times and is as good if not better than me 90 percent of the time. So a big thank you to those two for their partnership and more importantly their friendship.”
