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The University of Utah Athletics
RuthAnn Allen Named Women's Tennis Head Coach
7/2/2024 10:30 AM | Women's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced RuthAnn Allen as head coach of the Utes' women's tennis program today. A former Utah All-American and member of the Utes' Athletics Hall of Fame, Allen returns to her alma mater after spending the previous five seasons as head coach at Weber State.
"RuthAnn brings a wealth of experience to this position and tremendous achievements as a Hall of Fame student-athlete at the University of Utah, and we're thrilled to welcome her back to the U," Harlan said. "She has established herself as a terrific teacher and competitor who has elevated her teams to great success. RuthAnn understands what it means to be a Utah Ute, and I look forward to seeing the growth and development of student-athletes under her direction."
In her tenure as head coach at Weber State, she helped the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship title in 2023 and was honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year. During the 2022 season, Allen led Weber State to a Big Sky regular season title and was named Big Sky Coach of the Year. At the helm of the Wildcats, she led Weber State to the Big Sky tournament title match in four straight seasons.
"I am honored to return to Utah, a place that truly feels like home," Allen said. "Leading the Utes as we transition into the Big 12 Conference is an incredible opportunity. I extend my gratitude to Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Liz Prince for their confidence in me. I am eager to work with our talented and dedicated team. I'm excited to push the boundaries of what our program can achieve."
Prior to her time at Weber State, Allen served as an assistant coach at Utah for 20 seasons. She was the associate head coach for the Utes in the 2018-19 season and served as an assistant coach in four different stints (1993, 1995-98, 2003-06, 2008-18).
In 2019, Allen was instrumental with helping Utah to a top-50 finish in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association final poll, coming in at No. 44. Utah also posted a No. 2 ranking in the ITA Mountain Region poll marking the fifth straight year that the Utes had been ranked in the top five in the Mountain Region, earning back-to-back No.1 rankings in 2014 and 2015.
Allen assisted the Utes in earning bids to the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and in three straight seasons from 2010-12. She also helped lead the Utes to two Mountain West Conference Championships in 2010, 2011.
Allen helped the Utes produce eight All-Pac-12 selections and 13 All-Mountain West Conference selections, including 2011 MWC Women's Tennis Player of the Year Anastasia Putilina and 2008 MWC Freshman of the Year Evgenia Kryuchkova.
She was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023. Also, among her accolades, Allen was named ITA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.
During her four-year playing career at Utah, the former Ruth Ann Stevens garnered several honors. She was ranked in the top 25 all four years and named an All-American in 1992. She earned all-conference honors every year she played (1989-92). With doubles partner Lisa Salvatierra, she ranked 12th nationally and was the No. 5 seed at the 1992 NCAA Championships.
With doubles partner Allison Bradford in 1991, she was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. The Utah native was a three-time NCAA qualifier and in addition to her 2005 induction into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame she received the Dave Freed Award through the Utah Tennis Association.
Allen graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science and Health. She is married to Jason Allen, and has four children, Calvin, Anna, Roxy and Coco.
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"RuthAnn brings a wealth of experience to this position and tremendous achievements as a Hall of Fame student-athlete at the University of Utah, and we're thrilled to welcome her back to the U," Harlan said. "She has established herself as a terrific teacher and competitor who has elevated her teams to great success. RuthAnn understands what it means to be a Utah Ute, and I look forward to seeing the growth and development of student-athletes under her direction."
In her tenure as head coach at Weber State, she helped the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship title in 2023 and was honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year. During the 2022 season, Allen led Weber State to a Big Sky regular season title and was named Big Sky Coach of the Year. At the helm of the Wildcats, she led Weber State to the Big Sky tournament title match in four straight seasons.
"I am honored to return to Utah, a place that truly feels like home," Allen said. "Leading the Utes as we transition into the Big 12 Conference is an incredible opportunity. I extend my gratitude to Mark Harlan, Charmelle Green and Liz Prince for their confidence in me. I am eager to work with our talented and dedicated team. I'm excited to push the boundaries of what our program can achieve."
Prior to her time at Weber State, Allen served as an assistant coach at Utah for 20 seasons. She was the associate head coach for the Utes in the 2018-19 season and served as an assistant coach in four different stints (1993, 1995-98, 2003-06, 2008-18).
In 2019, Allen was instrumental with helping Utah to a top-50 finish in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association final poll, coming in at No. 44. Utah also posted a No. 2 ranking in the ITA Mountain Region poll marking the fifth straight year that the Utes had been ranked in the top five in the Mountain Region, earning back-to-back No.1 rankings in 2014 and 2015.
Allen assisted the Utes in earning bids to the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and in three straight seasons from 2010-12. She also helped lead the Utes to two Mountain West Conference Championships in 2010, 2011.
Allen helped the Utes produce eight All-Pac-12 selections and 13 All-Mountain West Conference selections, including 2011 MWC Women's Tennis Player of the Year Anastasia Putilina and 2008 MWC Freshman of the Year Evgenia Kryuchkova.
She was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023. Also, among her accolades, Allen was named ITA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.
During her four-year playing career at Utah, the former Ruth Ann Stevens garnered several honors. She was ranked in the top 25 all four years and named an All-American in 1992. She earned all-conference honors every year she played (1989-92). With doubles partner Lisa Salvatierra, she ranked 12th nationally and was the No. 5 seed at the 1992 NCAA Championships.
With doubles partner Allison Bradford in 1991, she was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. The Utah native was a three-time NCAA qualifier and in addition to her 2005 induction into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame she received the Dave Freed Award through the Utah Tennis Association.
Allen graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science and Health. She is married to Jason Allen, and has four children, Calvin, Anna, Roxy and Coco.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
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