Sept. 6, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Jason Sher will serve as head coach of the Loyola Marymount men's tennis program, Director of Athletics Dr. William Husak announced today. Sher comes to the bluff after spending eight seasons as the assistant head coach of men's tennis at UCLA.

Sher was instrumental in guiding UCLA to the NCAA title in 2005, the Bruins' first NCAA tennis title since 1984. Along with the NCAA title, Sher also coached UCLA to the NCAA Championship Finals in 2004, two final four appearances in 2002 and 2003, and four Elite Eight appearances in 2000, 2001, 2006, and 2007.

In addition to his coaching duties at UCLA, Sher organized the training and conditioning programs and academic supervision of the men's tennis student-athletes. He also coordinated travel, equipment, and fundraising efforts, and assisted with domestic and international recruiting for the Bruins.

"We are excited to bring someone with Coach Sher's championship experience to our men's tennis program," Husak said. "Coach Sher is accustomed to winning, both as a player and as a coach, and we are confident that he will continue that trend here."

Prior to his time at UCLA, Sher supervised the elite group for U.S. and International juniors at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla., where he worked with some of the top juniors and professionals around the world for three years. He also served as a training partner for touring professionals at the academy, including Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Vince Spadea, and Jennifer Capriati.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join LMU Athletics as the men's tennis coach," Sher said. "We have a very exciting new team, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and competing for a WCC Championship. I want to thank Dr. Bill Husak, Dr. Lane Bove, Ms. Betty Werner, and the members of the search committee for giving me this opportunity. I hope to build on the achievements Nik DeVore has had with the program and continue to strive for excellence, both in the classroom and on the court."

A four-year letterwinner at UCLA from 1990-1993, Sher compiled an impressive 101-21 overall career singles record, including an 86-13 mark in dual match play. He owned the highest winning percentage on the team three of his four years. During his playing days, the Bruins never finished out of the top-5 nationally, finishing as high as third in the nation in 1990, 1992, and 1993. As a senior, Sher competed in singles at the 1993 NCAA Championships.

Sher earned his Bachelor's degree in history from UCLA in 1993 and went on to obtain a postgraduate degree in marketing management from the University of Cape Town in his native South Africa in 1996.

Following his senior year at UCLA, Sher went on to compete professionally on the A.T.P. Tour for two years with great success.

Prior to wearing the Bruin uniform, Sher attended Boston House College in Cape Town, where he was one of South Africa's top junior players.

Sher currently resides in West Los Angeles.

He and the Lions take the court for the first time together October 5-7 at the UC Irvine Invitational.

-GO LIONS-