Tennis Assistant Accepts Position at Oklahoma

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After four seasons with the Kansas women’s tennis program, volunteer assistant coach Boomer Saia will move on to the University of Oklahoma as an assistant coach, both programs announced Wednesday.
 
In his final season at Kansas, Saia worked hand-in-hand with first-year head coach Todd Chapman and first-year assistant coach Aaron Fuller. His duties included on-court coaching, video analysis for the Kansas team and its opponents, individual workouts and day-to-day operations.
 
“These last four years at KU have been an unbelievably rewarding experience,” said Saia. “I’d like to thank coach Chapman, coach Fuller and [former KU coaches] Amy Hall-Holt, and German Dalmagro, as they all had a major impact on me during my time at Kansas. These coaches helped shape me into the coach I am today, and without them, this opportunity would not have been possible. KU will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget the experiences and great times I had in Lawrence.”
 
Saia departs from the program following a record-breaking 2013-14 season assisting the Jayhawks. KU was ranked as high as No. 33 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association charts, the highest in program history. Kansas opened the dual slate on an eight-match win streak, tying for the second longest in program history.
 
“I’m thrilled for Boomer,” said Chapman. “There is not a volunteer assistant in the U.S. more deserving of this opportunity. Boomer has given his heart and soul to KU tennis over the past four years. Boomer is a tireless worker who gave his all in everything he does.  I know he will take the same passion to OU that he gave our program. The players loved him and we as coaches did also. Boomer was unique in that I trusted him with every aspect of this program. He worked tireless hours and never asked for anything in return. I wish Boomer the best – except when he now plays the Jayhawks!”
 
Off the court, Saia received a Bachelor of Science degree in sports management with a minor in business and a Master’s of education with an emphasis in sports administration from KU.
 
Prior to his position at Kansas, Saia was a tennis standout at Cowley College in his hometown of Arkansas City, Kan. Saia earned two letters for the Tigers, playing from 2007-09, including an appearance in the semifinals of the 2009 NJCAA National Tournament in doubles and was named a junior college Academic All-American.
 
“I am very excited to join the OU tennis program and coach David Mullins,” said Saia. “The Oklahoma women’s tennis program has a tremendous reputation and tradition. I’m looking forward to this amazing opportunity.”

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