Former Hurricane Coach to Lead U.S. Olympic Team

March 26, 2008

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Coral Gables, Fla… Former University of Miami head coach Rodney Harmon has been named head coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s tennis team.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The USTA Director of Men’s Tennis, Harmon was tabbed to take over the position from Patrick McEnroe, who served as the head coach at the 2004 Athens Games.

Harmon previously served as a head men’s tennis coach at the University of Miami for two seasons from 1996-97, compiling a 22-23 overall record. In 1997, Harmon led the Hurricanes to a Big East title and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named the 1996 Big East Coach of the Year after leading the team to a second-place finish in the conference in his first season at the helm.

Harmon will guide a squad of up to six men at the 2008 Olympic Games to be held August 8-24 in Beijing, China, with tennis competition slated for August 10-17 at the Beijing Olympic Tennis Center. Olympic team selections will be made by June 23.

The United States has won 15 Olympic medals in men’s and women’s tennis since its return as a full medal sport in 1988 — more than any other nation.