Becky Cecere, Penn State Harrisburg head coach for men’s and women’s tennis, was named Coach of the Year by the United States Professional Tennis Association’s (USPTA) Middle States Division. The honor was announced at a World TeamTennis Match on Thursday, July 19 at Villanova University.
Cecere, of Hummelstown, Pa., has headed the teams for the past six seasons. In 2009, the women’s team won its first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championship under Cecere – the first in school history in any sport. The men’s team won back-to-back North Atlantic Conference (NAC) titles in 2011 and 2012 under Cecere and earned the program’s first NCAA postseason tournament berth this past spring, leading to her being named the 2012 NAC West Division Coach of the Year by her peers.
Cecere has served in a number of positions for tennis organizations, including chair of the NEAC Tennis Committee, the Atlantic South Region representative for the NCAA Women’s Tennis Committee, and a member of the USTA Middle States Committee and Coaches Commission.
“As a tennis coach and educator, Becky Cecere has made a tremendous impact on the lives of our student athletes, our athletic department, and our college in general,” said Penn State Harrisburg Athletic Director Rashaan Carlton.
Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the world's oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. The association recognizes members in more than 80 countries.