UH-Hilo Names Second New Tennis Hire in Two Months

For the second time in three months, the University of Hawai’i at Hilo has named a new head coach for its men’s and women’s tennis programs.

The university announced on Monday that Tina McDermott will become the school’s fourth head coach in the last three seasons.

McDermott takes over for Nate Gross, who was announced as the head tennis coach for both programs on July 29 and was slated to started on Aug. 1. Just days after Gross’ hire was made public by the school, the announcement was removed from UH-Hilo’s athletics website without explanation.

Joey Estrella, interim Athletic Director at the time of Gross’ hire, could not go into details on the change in Gross’ employment, saying only that it was a “personnel matter.”

Carlos Quijano coached both squads during the 2015 season, and Karl Sloss led the programs during the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

McDermott comes from Division III Whittier College, where she coached the Poets to a 5-19 season last year and a 3-8 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference mark.

“We are pleased to announce Tina McDermott as our next head coach here at UH-Hilo,” Athletics Director Patrick Guillen said in a statement. “Her playing, coaching, and teaching experience will assist her in building and leading a program that we can all be proud of.  As a former top-ranked player, NCAA Division I student-athlete, and coach last year at Whittier College, Coach McDermott understands what it takes to be successful.  But most importantly, she is committed to providing the best student experience possible and developing the whole person through academics and the sport of tennis.  I couldn’t be more pleased to have Coach McDermott join the Vulcans’ ‘ohana.”

McDermott also brings experience at the Division I level with her. She played all four years at UC Irvine. Before college, she was ranked 25th in her age group in Southern California.