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2000, 2001, 2003 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Tennis Coach of the Year Now in his 13th year at St. Bonaventure, Michael Bates has established himself as one of the top coaches in the Atlantic 10 Conference. His focus for the women's program is set on a steady climb in the conference standings building on each season. He has coached numerous All-Conference players at St. Bonaventure, most recently 2006 graduate Alejandro Nery. The Venezuala native was a three-time All-Conference performer and currently is an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams at his alma mater. Under the guidance of Bates, freshman Diego Valdenegro turned in a strong rookie performance on the courts in 2006. He was selected to the All-Conference second team as a rookie Bates has led the men's tennis program to new heights, earning Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Coach of the Year honors in 2000, 2001 and 2003. Since 2001, he has led the men to two A-10 titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances and six straight years among the A-10's top three. Bates is also a leader in college tennis, appointed a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Committee beginning in September 2001. Bates was the assistant men's and women's coach at the University of Pennsylvania for two years before coming to St. Bonaventure. At Penn, he helped guide the men to a national ranking and the women to a second-place finish in the Ivy League. He began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Slippery Rock University, for two years. Bates taught professionally in Boston for four years before joining the staff at Penn. Bates was a four-year letterwinner at Slippery Rock and was captain as a senior in 1987. He holds the fourth-best all-time record at the school and helped lead The Rock to a school-record 12 straight team wins. Bates and his wife, Kris, reside in Olean with their son, Thomas, who was born in May 2005, and their daughter, Karolyn. |
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