Rene Vidal named Women's Tennis head coach
12/21/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Dec. 21, 2005
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University named Rene Vidal its women's tennis head coach on Wednesday. Vidal succeeds Brett Bridel, who resigned last fall after one season at SIU.
Vidal joins the Salukis from Mississippi State, where he served as assistant coach last year and helped guide the Bulldogs to a Southeastern Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 35-year-old Long Island, N.Y., native is a highly regarded tennis teacher. He's a member of the prestigious USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program, spending two-and-a-half years serving as developmental coach at the Chris Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. (2001-04).
Vidal, who officially starts at SIU on Jan. 3, said he is eager to work with his new team. The Salukis finished 7-11 last season, but return five letterwinners in 2006.
"As a teacher and coach, my primary objective is to develop world-class human beings and great competitors," Vidal said. "I look forward to creating an environment and attitude that develops leaders both on and off the court."
Working under legendary teacher Andy Brandi at the Evert Tennis Academy, he did just that. Vidal helped train and develop nationally ranked junior players, including Jessie Levine (Boys 18), Allie Will (Girls 16), Claire Bartlett (Girls 16) and Rasheed Williams (Boys 14).
In addition, he co-directed the Evert Tennis Academy camp, a rigorous 10-week summer cycle with more than 1,000 junior tennis players from around the world.
"Rene has an impressive background and is a polished professional," Saluki Athletics Director Paul Kowalczyk said. "We are eager to get him on board and confident our women's tennis program will be successful under his leadership."
Vidal coached just one season at Mississippi State, but it was the most successful women's tennis campaign in school history. The Bulldogs earned a final ITA ranking of #30 and won their first-ever conference championship. In the classroom, the women's tennis team led all athletic programs with the highest cumulative GPA for the year.
Known for his keen coaching insight, Vidal has written numerous articles as a tennis columnist for the award-winning Florida Tennis Magazine, such as "5 Keys to Successful Coaching," "How to Develop an Aggressive Baseline Style" and "Build a Winning Attitude."
While at the Academy, he served as the technical advisor for Venus and Serena Williams' latest book, "How To Play Tennis" (DK Publishing, 2004).
Vidal is a 1993 graduate of Florida International University. He served as assistant coach at his alma mater from 2001-02 and helped lead the Lady Panthers to an NCAA Regional Championship berth and a #32 final ITA team ranking.
From 1998-2000, Vidal took a break from coaching and spent three years as an executive for a Wall Street based brokerage firm.
Prior to that, he served one year as the interim head coach of Colgate's women's team in 1997-1998 and one season as assistant coach at Colgate (1996-97). As the head coach, he led the women's program to its third-consecutive Patriot League Conference Championship and earned the Patriot League Women's Coach of the Year Award.
From 1995-96, Vidal served as the assistant men's coach at William and Mary, working with USPTA Master Professional and Head Coach Peter Daub.
Vidal's first coaching experience came as the graduate assistant men's and women's coach at Boise State from 1993-95. During his stint, the men won their third consecutive Big Sky Conference Championship, second consecutive NCAA Regional Championship berth and a top-25 ranking. On the women's side, he helped the squad win their first Big Sky Conference Championship.
Vidal holds a master's degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla. He and his wife, Lissette, have been married seven years and have three boys, Angelo (5), Andres (3) and Alexander (2 months).
The File on René Vidal
Education
2003: Master of Science Degree (Sports Administration), St. Thomas University
1993: Bachelor of Science Degree (Public Administration), Florida International University
1991: Associate of Arts Degree, Broward Community College
Playing
High School: Half Hollow Hills East H.S (1986-87), USTA junior rankings (B10'S-14'S)
College: Broward (College) (1987-88)
Coaching
2001-04: High Performance Developmental Coach, Evert Tennis Academy
2001-02: Assistant Women's Coach, Florida International University
1997-98: Head Men's & Women's Coach, Colgate University
1996-97: Assistant Men's & Women's Coach, Colgate University
1995-96: Assistant Men's Coach, William & Mary
1993-95: Graduate Assistant Men's & Women's Coach, Boise State University