August 24, 1999

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech officially announced the hiring of Virginia Brown as head women's tennis coach according to athletic department personnel. Brown takes over the program which had been under the direction of Tim Siegel, who is concentrating efforts on coaching the men's tennis team.

Brown, a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, had been the head coach for both the men's and women's teams at Odessa College where she had won 10 national championships. She was named the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1989. Additionally, Brown has nine years of coaching on the professional circuit.

"We're very excited to have Virginia here as a coach," said Texas Tech Senior Woman Administrator Judith Henry. "I think she will be a great recruiter for us and has excellent credentials."

Brown received her bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a masters from North Texas and studied for her Ph.D. from Texas Tech and the University of California-Berkeley.

"I think it's an excellent job," Brown said. "To be in the Big 12 is an honor for me. Im looking forward to giving the people who support our program something to be proud of."

--TTU--