In 10 seasons at the helm of the Northwestern women's tennis program, Claire Pollard has led the 'Cats to 10-consecutive Big Ten titles. She was named the 2008 Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year, and also has been named the Wilson/ITA Midwest Region Coach of the Year four times, including this season. Pollard has guided the Wildcats to an overall record of 237-50, including an astounding 94-6 mark in the Big Ten regular season. She also stands at 35-0 against conference opponents in postseason play (Big Ten Championship & NCAA Championships). Besides her 10 conference titles, Pollard is also a four-time recipient of the Big Ten Coach of the Year award. She currently has won 64-consecutive conference matches. Under Pollard, NU has flourished with 31 individual NCAA qualifiers, eight Midwest Regional champions, 29 All-Big Ten honorees and 36 Academic All-Big Ten recipients. In 2008, the No. 1-ranked 'Cats completed their best season under Pollard's tenure, with a 29-2 dual season mark and a perfect 10-0 in Big Ten play, for the fourth-consecutive season. The 'Cats advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament for the fifth-straight year, and the quarterfinal round for just the third time in 19 seasons. In 2007, the 'Cats finished 24-5, 10-0 in the Big Ten for a third straight year. With the 10 wins added this seasson, NU now has won 64-straight matches in which they have played a conference foe. Following the 2007 regular season, three Wildcats participated in the NCAA Championships individually and the 'Cats had a doubles team compete as well. The Wildcats reached the Round of 16 for the sixth time since the 64-team format was introduced to the Championships, and once again had players honored as both the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. Despite their continued success, Pollard finds a way to keep the team improving each year. In 2005-06, Pollard guided the 'Cats to arguably their best season in program history. After going undefeated in conference play for the fourth time, the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, the furthest Pollard has ever taken a squad. The 'Cats defeated No. 4 Georgia Tech before falling to USC in the round of eight. Pollard saw the doubles team of Alexis Prousis and Cristelle Grier win the NCAA championship, the first national championship in the Pollard era. In 2004, the Wildcats had another typical conference season--NU went 9-1 during regular-season play, then blew past Ohio State, 4-1, for its sixth-consecutive championship. Pollard directed NU to yet another Big Ten title in 2003. The 'Cats finished the season No. 18 in the ITA national rankings after falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. At the end of the spring, freshman Cristelle Grier won the Player of the Year honor in the Big Ten. It was the second year in a row a Wildcat won the honor. Pollard guided the 2002 Wildcats to a perfect Big Ten record of 10-0 en route to winning the conference title. The team also advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Championships for the third-straight time. In 2001, Pollard led the Wildcats to a 24-5 record, their third consecutive Big Ten title and their 12th NCAA tournament appearance (highlighted by their playing host to a regional tournament for the first time). The team also completed the season with the No. 9 national ranking and a first-place finish in the Midwest Region. Under Pollard's direction, three Wildcats have been named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in the same season--a feat that has only been accomplished three times in conference history. In 2003, Cristelle Grier became the first NU player to do so, and just the second in conference history to earn both accolades. Two seasons later, Audra Cohen achieved the feat as well, before Maria Mosolova did so in 2008. In 2006, Cristelle Grier won Big Ten Player of the Year for the third time. She was a four-time All-Big Ten selection. Pollard knows how to bring out the best in her players, but she also knows there is more to the college tennis experience than just practicing serves and fine-tuning backhands. In her 10 years at Northwestern, Pollard hasn't forgotten college athletics are about fun and enjoying the college experience. Pollard's first head coaching position was at her alma mater, Mississippi State University, where she was the coach during the 1990-91 season. After a short stint with the Chris Lane Tennis Club in England, she came back to the States to take on the head coaching position at Lamar, where she led both the men's and women's teams. During that time, the women's team posted a 64-49 overall record. Meanwhile, the men's team finished 1997 with a 13-8 mark, its best since 1986. A decorated collegiate player, Pollard won the 1989 NCAA Doubles Championship as well as back-to-back Southeastern Conference Indoor and Outdoor Doubles Championships. An All-American and Academic All-American, she was named Mississippi State's Female Athlete of the Year in 1989. Pollard is the Bulldogs' leader for doubles victories in one season, having 39 in 1988-89. She is also tied for eighth in season singles victories (23, 1985-86). In 1989, Pollard also participated in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open Championships. Pollard graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi State with a bachelor of science in fitness management and received her master's from Mississippi State in sports administration. A native of Surrey, England, Pollard served for four years on the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tennis Committee. Pollard also served as chairman of the NCAA Committee for two years. Pollard resides in Evanston. |
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