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Hilary Somers is in her tenth year leading the Lady Dons tennis team as their head coach. Before being promoted to this status, Somers was the assistant coach at USF during the 1999-2000 year.
Somers has a motivated group of athletes and is bolstering a program in one of the nation's elite women's tennis leagues: the West Coast Conference. She was honored as the WCC Coach of the Year for women's tennis in 2003.
Going on her 14th year as a Community Tennis Coordinator for the United States Tennis Association, Somers carries out many responsibilities and tasks. Among them, she is responsible for all USTA Community Tennis programs in Santa Clara County. She has also offered her talents as a USTA National Coach for 16's Zonals. She has also served as the USTA NorCal Junior Fed Cup Coach, coaching NorCal to their best national finish ever (5th place) in 2004.
She is involved with many tennis programs throughout the Bay Area, including coordinating and teaching clinics and workshops. She is a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff.
Somers has her Pat Etcheberry Certification in Strength, Conditioning, and Movement in Sport, and is a certified tennis professional through the United States Professional Tennis Association. An intense competitor, Somers has been ranked as high as #7 in Northern California Women's Open Division. When not on the tennis courts, she trains for triathlons and competes all over California. She has run two marathons in San Francisco and Napa Valley.
Somers attended UC San Diego where she completed a standout career for Triton tennis. As captain, she led her team to a NCAA National Championship in 1994 and Runner-Up in 1995. She received many awards including the Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award for the West Region in 1994 and the Most Inspirational Player Award during 1995-1996. She also competed on the UCSD intercollegiate basketball team.
Somers graduated from UCSD in 1996, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She completed her Master's degree in Sport Management at USF in June 2005.
Somers believes that the discipline, confidence, and mental toughness that is learned on the court is carried off the court for a lifetime. "It is my hope that these ladies learn to walk on and off every court with their heads held high," Somers said.
