New coach aims for team to be among elite
Borelli brings experience from USC and USTA to a team that has been a consistent competitor in the NCAA regionals.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

Replacing former women’s tennis coach Roland Ingram wasn’t going to be an easy task.

The only leader the Frogs had known, Ingram stepped down in summer 2002 after serving as coach for 19 years. In that time the team made six NCAA Regional appearances, and won four conference titles, including three in a row from 1999-2001.

However, the Frogs feel they have their man in Dave Borelli, and his resume seems to back up the hire.

In 14 seasons at USC, his teams claimed seven national titles, three runner-up finishes and 10 conference championships. Five of his players captured national collegiate singles titles and had two doubles teams accomplish the same. Boasting an .870 winning percentage, Borelli orchestrated an eight-year span where the Trojans won 88 straight matches at home.

The past four years, Borelli has served as Men’s Professional Tour Coach for the United States Tennis Association. Here, he will coach seven-man teams in the rookie program.

Borelli said after his stint with the USTA, he was looking to get back into college coaching.

He said TCU seemed like a terrific fit for him.

“When I interviewed for the position, I didn’t really know much about the campus and the city,” Borelli said. “When I left that weekend, I was really impressed.”

Borelli’s goals include taking a team that has made consistent trips to the NCAA regionals one step further, and making them a consistent Elite 16 squad.

However, he said there are more aspects he focus on than just winning and losing.

“Only 30 percent of it is really related to winning,” Borelli said. “I think in terms of my program, winning and losing should never be the issue. There are goals that you focus on. You focus on the immediacy of a goal, and if you stress those issues, the winning is going to come. If you worry to much about winning or losing, I think it bites you in the butt.”

The players he hopes to build that foundation with include junior Paty Aburto. She said Borelli is already helping the team with the little things in tennis.

“With (Borelli), I think we are practicing more technique, like how to move our feet in order to hit the ball in front of us,” Aburto said.

Senior Rosa Perez said Borelli’s background will help the team achieve his goals.

“He’s got a lot of experience,” Perez said. “We have good (women) and a good program, so for sure he can help us.”

Despite all his past endeavors and success, Borelli said coaching at TCU is one of his greatest achievements.

“I’m not in a situation where I want to go anywhere,” Borelli said. “I think this is for me. This is my reward for all my years of tennis. I want to stay here and build the program, and by my third recruiting class in four years I believe we’ll always be an elite 16 team.”