Erica Perkins Jasper Appointed New Chief Operating Officer of ITA

Erica Perkins Jasper has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, with her role set to begin on July 1, 2015. Timothy Russell, the ITA's CEO-Designate, in announcing the appointed, remarked, "Erica is absolutely the perfect person to join our team in this important role. Her extensive experience as a successful coach, a leader with the ITA and as a proven administrator with the United States Tennis Association makes her an ideal partner as together we will work tirelessly on behalf of college tennis to move our sport forward."

Perkins Jasper said, "My passion for college tennis is calling me to serve the sport that has provided so much for me. I am thankful for this opportunity, for me and our family."

Erica recently completed three years as the head women's coach at the University of New Mexico. Formerly she served as the head women's coach at Michigan State University, the assistant women's coach at The College of William Mary, and the head women's tennis coach at Georgia Southern University.

Tim Cass, Chief Operating Officer of the University of New Mexico Athletics, said, "Erica will be greatly missed at UNM. She completely turned around our women's tennis program in three short years and put UNM tennis back in the national picture by winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA tournament this year. While I have mixed emotions about Erica leaving the coaching world because she is so good with student-athletes, I am very excited about this unique opportunity for her at the ITA. Her skill set and personality are ideal for her upcoming responsibilities, as she is extremely well respected by women's and men's coaches across the country. Her past experiences in leading the collegiate efforts with the USTA will also prove to be invaluable to her in this new role. I think the ITA and Tim Russell hit a home run with this hire."

Erica received both her B.A. in History from the Honors College, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and her M. Ed. in Athletic Administration from Washington State University, where she will be inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in September. During her collegiate career, she was a First Team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American and The Sporting News Socrates Award Finalist.

David Roditi, 2015 Wilson/ITA Division I Men's Coach of the Year, and head men's coach at Texas Christian University, said, "There is not a more qualified person that fits what college tennis needs than Erica. She has the creativity, enthusiasm, personality, community sense, and the coaches' respect that this position requires. I'm excited to see what Tim and Erica, together with their staff, have planned for the ITA."

In addition to her work in higher education, Perkins Jasper also served as the Senior Manager of Junior & Collegiate Competition for USTA Player Development from 2008-2012. Timon Corwin,General Manager of the Western Racquet Club and Moorland Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and former Senior Director of Junior & Collegiate Competition for the USTA, said, "Erica is the perfect fit for the ITA with her combined coaching and administrative background. She's well liked and a respected and trusted voice among her peers in college tennis. While working together with her at the USTA, she made me look good on a daily basis. This is a coup for college tennis and the ITA."

In recent years, Erica has served on the USTA's National Collegiate Varsity Committee, the USTA National Pro Circuit Committee, the ITA Board of Directors and the ITA Division I Operating Committee.She remarked, "Having collaborated with Tim Russell in the past, I am very excited to be working under his leadership, as well as with my colleagues within the ITA and the larger tennis world. This is an important time not only for college tennis but also collegiate athletics, one ripe with many opportunities."

Jenny Mainz, Associate Chair of the ITA Division I Women's Operating Committee and a member of the ITA Board of Directors, head women's coach at the University of Alabama and coach of the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Women's Doubles Champions, added, "Erica understands the ins and outs of college tennis and will undoubtedly inject a lot of positive energy in her new position as she has the best interest of college tennis at heart."

ITA Chairman of the Board David A Benjamin summed things up well in saying, "I am delighted to welcome Erica to the ITA Team. Or rather, to her newrole with the ITA Team, as she has worked closely with the ITA over many years, initially in her position with the USTA, and most recently, as a member of the ITA Board of Directors. Erica will be a great asset to the ITA and our world of college tennis."

About the ITA: The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body of college tennis, overseeing men's and women's varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men's and women's varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court. For more information on the ITA, visit the ITA website at www.itatennis.com, like the ITA on Facebook or follow @ITAtennis on Twitter.