UCI hires former star

Former UC Irvine men’s tennis star Trevor Kronemann has been named the Anteaters’ head coach, Athletic Director Bob Chichester announced Thursday.

Kronemann, who graduated from UCI in 1990, was an NCAA All-American in singles all four collegiate seasons and was recognized in doubles in 1989, when he was an NCAA finalist with partner Mike Briggs.

Kronemann, who helped UCI capture four Big West Conference titles, was the Big West Player of the Year in 1990. He went on to play on the Assn. of Tennis Professionals tour for eight years, and captured six doubles titles.

Kronemann, 37, was the head coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for five years before landing the UCI job. Kronemann was 64-65 at Cal Poly, including a 14-9 mark last year.

“I look forward to my return to UC Irvine and the opportunity to lead a tradition-rich tennis program,” Kronemann said in a statement. “ ? I feel very fortunate, 20 years later, to return to the campus that has been at the heart of my existence for so long. I left Orange County five years ago to gain the experience needed to pursue my dream of becoming the head men’s tennis coach here at UC Irvine, and now that is a reality.”

In 1999, Kronemann was inducted into the UCI Athletic Hall of Fame.

Kronemann is in his seventh season as coach of the Springfield Lasers of World Team Tennis.

He was the WTT Most Valuable Player twice, after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1990.

Kronemann replaces Steve Clark, who resigned after 14 seasons.dpt-ucibrief14.IMGGraphicInfoTI1SU49J20060714TI1SU49JCaption: No Caption