Wasps Welcome New Interim Assistant Tennis Coach

The E&H women's tennis team hopes to improve last season's record with new coach Sara Hawkins (not pictured).

A former All-Conference and All-Academic star from Milligan College will be lending a helping hand to the men's and women's tennis teams at Emory & Henry College next season.

Sara Hawkins joins the Wasps coaching staff as the new interim assistant coach for both teams. Hawkins played collegiately at Milligan College. While playing tennis for the Buffaloes, she was selected All-Conference Honorable Mention (2005-2006), All-Conference (2007-2008) and Sports Woman of the Year (2008-2009).

She comes to E&H after the receiving her master of public health degree from the University of Tennessee in December 2010. Hawkins graduated from South Greene High School in Greeneville, Tenn. in 2005.

This will be Hawkins' first professional coaching job, and she will join first-year coach Josh Parmenter, who is looking forward to building on a strong tennis tradition at the college.

"There is hard work ahead of us, but I have confidence that we can accomplish much, represent Emory & Henry well, and enjoy competing in one of the strongest conferences in the country," Parmenter said.

The women's tennis team will kick off its 2011 season with a home match against Hollins University on Feb. 25.  The men's tennis team will return to the court against Bridgewater on April 10.