Bucknell University Athletics
Rebecca Helt to Coach Bucknell's Men's and Women's Tennis Teams
6/28/2002 8:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
June 28, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the first time in school history, Bucknell's men's and women's tennis teams will be headed by the same individual. In a pioneering move in the storied histories of both programs, director of athletics and recreation John Hardt has announced that Rebecca Helt will coach both Bison teams.
Helt, who has coached the women's tennis squad for the last five years, becomes only the second woman ever to coach a Bucknell varsity men's team. Lynn Kachmarik guided the men's swimming team from 1994-98 (31-9) and the men's water polo team from 1987-90 (56-46).
"Our tennis programs have been extremely successful throughout their histories, and as we looked at ways to maximize coaching resources and further enhance the student-athlete experience, it was a natural evolution to name one head coach with an assistant to work with both programs," said Hardt. "This coaching model has been successfully implemented at other universities and will provide our student-athletes with more individualized coaching attention than ever before."
Led by a tremendous freshman class, Helt's women's squad posted a 12-9 dual-match record, marking the team's best record in four years and the best single-season turnaround (from 4-12 in 2000-01) in program annals.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity. Combining the two teams under one head coach and a quality assistant makes perfect sense right now. The players will have the benefit of two coaches focusing on practices and matches instead of one. I think the players will embrace the new structure and will find it to be a more focused and more motivating environment."
To support Helt in her expanded role, former Susquehanna University head men's tennis coach Sean Monaghan has been hired as an assistant coach and will work with both the men's and women's teams at Bucknell. A resident of nearby Sunbury, Pa., and a 1983 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Shamokin, Monaghan took his first collegiate coaching position at Susquehanna this past January.
Monaghan is a member of the United States Tennis Association and the United States Professional Tennis Association. He is also a United States Professional Tennis Registry Certified Tennis Instructor. Monaghan is nearing completion on a degree in exercise science and cardiac rehabilitation at Bloomsburg University.
"Rebecca has built a successful foundation with the women's program through her tactical teaching skills, successful recruiting and familiarity with the university and other Patriot League competitors," said associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator Amanda Backus. "In her new role overseeing both programs, we hope to provide consistent experiences to our male and female student-athletes. An immediate enhancement for both programs will be the added attention that assistant coach Sean Monaghan will be able to provide with respect to more individualized instruction during practices and additional attention during competitions. "
Only the third head coach in the 29-year history of the Bucknell women's tennis program, Helt took over in 1997-98 and led the Bison to a 16-9 record, tying the school's single-season victory record. She owns a 44-54 record in five years.
Helt, a 1990 graduate of Lock Haven University, assumes control of the men's program from Bob Hammerlee, who resigned last month after a 10-year tenure to return full-time to private teaching. He posted a 112-84 record, including a 14-6 mark last season and a school-record 19-2 ledger in 1998. Heavily recruited for track, Helt chose to pursue tennis at the collegiate level. She played Division II tennis for four years while at Lock Haven University. Prior to arriving on the campus of Bucknell, Helt was a teaching pro at the Doylestown Racquet Club where she trained top juniors for tournament play. Helt began her professional teaching career at the local West Branch Racquet Club in Williamsport, Pa., after being certified by the USPTR. Helt remains active with the USPTR by attending symposiums, tournaments and teaching lessons and clinics. She is also a member of the USTA and USRA (United States Racquetball Association) and continues to compete in both tennis and racquetball. In addition to her coaching responsibilities at Bucknell, Helt has been a volunteer coach for local AYSO and Little League youth teams. Currently, she is a sport advisor for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Organization, where she will help build interest in tennis throughout Pennsylvania.
