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The University of Utah Athletics
Women’s Tennis Announces Addition of Janet Koch
8/20/2019 10:58 AM | Women's Tennis
Former Jayhawk standout joins Ute staff as assistant coach.
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah women's tennis head coach Ric Mortera has announced the addition of Janet Koch as the assistant coach for the 2019-20 season. Koch comes to Utah following an illustrious four-year tennis career at the University of Kansas.
"Coach Koch is a great asset to this program," said Mortera. "She had a phenomenal college career and it will be so valuable for the team to have her experience and eye for the game on our side. She is also a great person whose work ethic and positive attitude is infectious. I am looking forward to building the future of this program with her and am so excited to welcome her to the Utah family."
Koch and her doubles partner, Nina Khmelnitckaia, finished the 2019 season as ITA's No. 5-ranked doubles team in the nation. Koch garnered First Team All-American honors, as well as being selected to the All-Big 12 Doubles First Team, for her dominant play on the doubles court. Koch and her partner held the status of the nation's top-ranked duo in the April 2, 2019 weekly ITA poll after holding a 12-1 record to that point, which included a 5-0 tally against nationally ranked doubles teams.
As Kansas' top team, Koch and Khmelnitckaia registered an overall record of 26-6 this past year. The partnership reached the Round of 16 in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship before being upset by Tulsa's top duo. Koch and her partner also claimed the prestigious Riviera ITA All-American Championship doubles tournament title in October of 2018.
Aside from the doubles success, the Durbanville, South Africa native also played an integral role to Kansas' singles play. Koch spent her time as the No. 2 singles player for the Jayhawks as a senior and finished the 2019 season ranked as the No. 105 singles player in the nation. Koch was crowned the singles champion at the ITA Regional Championships last October to highlight her singles career and was ranked as high as No. 34 in the nation during that time.
Koch impacted the Kansas women's tennis program immediately as a freshman and spent her time in the top doubles court and No. 3 singles slot, helping the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. She was a starter every year during the rebuild of Kansas' program and helped guide the Jayhawks to the NCAA Championships the past four years, along with being a part of Kansas' first ever Big 12 title.
Koch brings a significant amount of knowledge to Utah as a player, but also brings years of coaching experience to Salt Lake City. Prior to college, Koch coached at Edge Tennis Academy from 2010-14 in Stellenbosch, South Africa where she trained players ranging from beginners (age 10) to elite level players (age 25). Koch also assisted in the tennis camps held at Kansas, coaching athletes aspiring to improve their skills both individually and in groups.
Koch graduated with a degree in Business Management from Kansas in May of 2019. Besides her accomplishments on the court, Koch also demonstrated a commitment to her academic success and was named an ITA Scholar Athlete and All-Academic Big 12 First-Team selection her senior year. Koch was also a two-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member during her time at Kansas.
Off the court, Koch stayed very active in bettering her surrounding communities by participating on a Student Athlete Advisory Committee that organized projects which focused on enhancing people's lives through charitable works. She also has spent time as a nursing home volunteer doing various tasks around the homes in both Cape Town, Africa and Lawrence, Kansas.
"Coach Koch is a great asset to this program," said Mortera. "She had a phenomenal college career and it will be so valuable for the team to have her experience and eye for the game on our side. She is also a great person whose work ethic and positive attitude is infectious. I am looking forward to building the future of this program with her and am so excited to welcome her to the Utah family."
Koch and her doubles partner, Nina Khmelnitckaia, finished the 2019 season as ITA's No. 5-ranked doubles team in the nation. Koch garnered First Team All-American honors, as well as being selected to the All-Big 12 Doubles First Team, for her dominant play on the doubles court. Koch and her partner held the status of the nation's top-ranked duo in the April 2, 2019 weekly ITA poll after holding a 12-1 record to that point, which included a 5-0 tally against nationally ranked doubles teams.
As Kansas' top team, Koch and Khmelnitckaia registered an overall record of 26-6 this past year. The partnership reached the Round of 16 in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship before being upset by Tulsa's top duo. Koch and her partner also claimed the prestigious Riviera ITA All-American Championship doubles tournament title in October of 2018.
Aside from the doubles success, the Durbanville, South Africa native also played an integral role to Kansas' singles play. Koch spent her time as the No. 2 singles player for the Jayhawks as a senior and finished the 2019 season ranked as the No. 105 singles player in the nation. Koch was crowned the singles champion at the ITA Regional Championships last October to highlight her singles career and was ranked as high as No. 34 in the nation during that time.
Koch impacted the Kansas women's tennis program immediately as a freshman and spent her time in the top doubles court and No. 3 singles slot, helping the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. She was a starter every year during the rebuild of Kansas' program and helped guide the Jayhawks to the NCAA Championships the past four years, along with being a part of Kansas' first ever Big 12 title.
Koch brings a significant amount of knowledge to Utah as a player, but also brings years of coaching experience to Salt Lake City. Prior to college, Koch coached at Edge Tennis Academy from 2010-14 in Stellenbosch, South Africa where she trained players ranging from beginners (age 10) to elite level players (age 25). Koch also assisted in the tennis camps held at Kansas, coaching athletes aspiring to improve their skills both individually and in groups.
Koch graduated with a degree in Business Management from Kansas in May of 2019. Besides her accomplishments on the court, Koch also demonstrated a commitment to her academic success and was named an ITA Scholar Athlete and All-Academic Big 12 First-Team selection her senior year. Koch was also a two-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member during her time at Kansas.
Off the court, Koch stayed very active in bettering her surrounding communities by participating on a Student Athlete Advisory Committee that organized projects which focused on enhancing people's lives through charitable works. She also has spent time as a nursing home volunteer doing various tasks around the homes in both Cape Town, Africa and Lawrence, Kansas.
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