University of Minnesota Athletics
MARTIN NOVAK RESIGNS TO TAKE MARYLAND POST
8/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
"We appreciate Martin's longtime service and the progress that was made in the team's athletic and academic profile during his tenure," said women's athletics director Chris Voelz. "We wish him well in his next professional and personal endeavor."
"My Minnesota experience has been a very positive one and I will especially miss the wonderful student-athletes on the tennis team and the members of the Courtside Club," said Novak. "The University of Maryland made me an offer I could not refuse. I hope this move will bring me to the next step in my professional and personal growth.
"I want to thank the entire team of the Women's and Men's Athletics Departments for their professional courtesies and personal friendships. I feel very privileged to have been a small part of such a wonderful program. Now, I look forward to a new start with the Terrapins."
Novak compiled a 126-118 record in his 11 years with the Golden Gophers. The Gophers finished the 2000-01 season with an 11-9 record, their sixth consecutive winning season. In four of those six seasons, the Gophers advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Novak was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1999 after leading the Gophers to a second-place finish, the highest in school history. Minnesota played its way to its first Big Ten Tournament championship match, losing a 5 1/2-hour battle with Northwestern by a 4-3 score. The Gophers earned the highest national ranking in the program's history at No. 28 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota matched the No. 28 ranking in 2000, while earning an NCAA Tournament berth and placing second in the Big Ten standings.
Prior to coming to Minnesota, Novak spent five years at the University of Arkansas. Novak's career record stands at 197-163.
