MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men’s and Women’s Tennis) – Florida Tech’s head men’s and women’s tennis coach Bill Macom announced the hiring of Andrew Veeder as the new assistant coach for the men’s and women’s tennis programs on Wednesday. Veeder comes to FIT with four years of NCAA Division I playing experience and one year of coaching under his belt.

“I am really excited to join coach Macom and the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Florida Tech,” Veeder said. “I want to bring what I learned from playing Division I tennis and instill some of that knowledge into the players so we can field the best possible team.”

A native of Brevard, N.C., Veeder spent four years at Gardner-Webb University as a member of the men’s tennis team. The journalism major was a four-year No. 1 doubles player who recorded 41 career doubles wins. He also served as the team’s No. 2 singles player with a combined 35 career wins. He was 3-0 in his career at No. 1 singles for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.  
    
“I think Andrew will be a great addition to our staff,” Macom said. “He has a competitive tennis background and is familiar with our recruiting needs. The Division I coaching he received at Gardner-Webb is right in line with what I have been emphasizing here at FIT, so I am confident that he can make a smooth transition into our training methods. The team is excited to have a new assistant on board and eager for him to join us this week.”

Veeder was a two-time Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll recipient, an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Academic All-American and an ITA Scholar-Athlete. He was also named to the All-Big South Conference Team as a freshman.

In May of 2011, Veeder graduated from Gardner-Webb with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism News and Editorial. Upon graduation, Veeder joined the coaching staff at Georgetown Prep Tennis Club in North Bethesda, Md. He served as a senior staff professional there until June of 2012. His main duties at Georgetown Prep were to organize and manage all of the year-round clinics, develop lesson plans for group and individual classes and served as a junior tennis trainer.

When asked about working alongside Coach Macom, Veeder sounded eager to start the upcoming season.

“I think it is a great fit for me,” Veeder said about joining Macom and the FIT tennis program. “We have a similar outlook on practice, conditioning and playing attitudes.”

The 2012-13 tennis season will begin on Sept. 21 when both the men’s and women’s teams host the Panther Invitational.