Aug. 14, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former Tiger tennis player Mark Finnegan has returned to the blue and gray, this time as an assistant coach under Paul Goebel, it was announced Thursday. This is Finnegan's second stint as a Tiger assistant coach after spending some time as an assistant with the women's tennis team following his graduation from the University of Memphis in 2004.

"We're really excited to have Mark back with us," Head Coach Paul Goebel said. "He's already had a lot of really good ideas for the team and he's a great guy to bring back to be around our guys."

Finnegan graduated from Memphis in 2004 with a degree in finance after playing two seasons after transferring from Georgia Southern. He battled a shoulder injury his first season, but bounced back to post a 28-21 career singles mark in a Tiger uniform. He also posted a 12-6 mark in doubles with former Tiger assistant coach Alex Jago. Jago returned to his native Australia earlier this summer after spending the past season as a Tiger and Lady Tiger assistant coach.

After his graduation, Finnegan returned to his native Ireland and worked for the National Irish Bank. He returned to the U.S. and went to work as the Program Director at the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Fla. There, Finnegan worked with hotel guests and local residents and oversaw the junior tennis program.

He left the Drysdale Tennis Center in January of 2008, becoming a tennis instructor at the Point Clear Tennis Center in Alabama. He continued his coaching career there, coaching ranked junior players for Goebel called with the Tigers' coaching vacancy.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to be a role model for these young men like many coaches and older players were to me during my collegiate tennis years," said Finnegan. "There are not many opportunities to coach college athletics and I am excited that this one was presented to me. The chance to work with coach Goebel, who coached me, is one that I couldn't pass up. Their is not a coach who cares more for his players out there."