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Payne-Dorny Named Utes' Head Women's Tennis Coach
7/2/2002 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis
July 2, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY - Megan Payne-Dorny, one of the most accomplished tennis players all-time at the University of Utah, has been named women's head coach. The announcement came today from Associate Athletics Director Amy Hackett.
The St. George, Utah, native has been on the Ute coaching staff the past two seasons, first serving as a volunteer assistant in 2000-01 and a full-time assistant last season. She worked in all aspects of coaching, recruiting and administrative duties. Payne-Dorny was also an instructor at the Snowbird Canyon Racquet Club (1999) and the Salt Lake Swimming and Tennis Club (1999-2000), and an assistant tennis professional at the U.'s Eccles Tennis Center (2001).
Payne-Dorny was an Academic All-American in 1999 and 2000. She was also named first team all-conference in singles and doubles in 2000 and in singles in 1999. As a senior, she finished the season ranked 55th in nation and No. 1 in the ITA Central Region. She was also ranked as high as 38th in doubles. Payne-Dorny qualified for the 2000 NCAA Tournament and defeated the No. 2 seed. She was selected as the 2000 University of Utah Female Athlete of the Year by the Daily Chronicle.
Payne-Dorny received her bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science with a minor in psychology from Utah in 2000. She is currently working toward her master's degree in the pyscho-social aspects of sports at the U. Megan, 24, resides with her husband CJ in Salt Lake City.
"We are excited to have Megan taking over our women's tennis program," said Hackett. "Megan had an outstanding playing career and has proven herself as an excellent coach. She knows what it takes to be successful. We are hopeful that Megan can elevate our women's tennis program to one that will be competitive on both the conference and national levels."
"I am really excited about the opportunity to work in such a great athletics program and to be coaching at my alma mater," said Payne-Dorny. "We're looking forward to building the Utah women's tennis program into a Mountain West Conference power, and one that will be recognized nationally, once again. We feel that with the returning athletes, as well as the recruits we are looking at for the next two years, those goals are within reach. Even though our success has fallen off a bit in recent years, there is already an established level of excellence at Utah. We hope to return the program to its previous high level and beyond."
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