Pacific University officially announced Pete Yellico, former assistant men’s tennis coach for the Boxers, will take over the head coaching position for the 2017-2018 season after four successful years working under former head coach Brian Jackson.
Jackson has spent the last ten years coaching men’s tennis at Pacific but decided to resign after last year’s season to better focus on his teaching. Yellico will have big shoes to fill though, as Jackson turned the Boxers into one of the winning and dominant tennis programs in the Northwest Conference (NWC).
Jackson, who led the Boxers to six straight NWC tournaments, was named 2014 NWC Coach of the Year and earned a school record of 18 wins in one season in 2016, which led to the Boxer’s being ranked 29 in the country. Although he assisted Jackson for the past four years, Yellico feels he has been well prepared and knows what it will take to keep this team successful as he fills the head coaching spot.
“I am very excited to take the reins of the men’s tennis program,” Yellico said. “I’ve had the opportunity to assist Coach Jackson in building the team culture and it has proved successful. Jackson and I went 59-22 overall, with a 40-8 record in the Northwest Conference.”
Yellico said he appreciates his time serving as Jackson’s assistant coach and feels it has helped him become a better coach himself. “It has beem a privilege to serve as coach Jackson’s assistant coach,” Yellico said. “His guidance throughout our time together was very helpful for me to become a better coach, both on and off the court.”
Yellico plans on keeping the Boxers on top with the hopes of getting the team into the national rankings, finishing on top of the NWC and taking home a conference title.
“We have six incoming freshmen and I think they all have great potential to grow and make my long-term goals a possibility,” Yellico said. “I’m ecstatic to be coaching a great group of young men.”
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