University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet Head Coach Catrina Thompson
7/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Catrina Thompson has now been the Head Coach of the University of Minnesota women's tennis team for over a month. She sat down with GopherSports.com to talk about her vision for Minnesota women's tennis, her journey to becoming a head coach and her twin sister who is also a Division I Head Coach.
GopherSports.com: First off, why did you want to come coach at the University of Minnesota?
Thompson: I have heard nothing but great things about Minnesota. I have not heard one person say they don't enjoy living here. I knew that being in the Big Ten conference, obviously there are great opportunities tennis wise. Being in a power five conference, and looking at this roster, there is a good team and that was something I was really excited about.
GopherSports.com: With 2017-18 being your first season, what would you say you are most excited about?
Thompson: I think I am most excited about competing again. I think the summer you get anxious to get the team back out on the court together, the fall is a little more individual based, but it is a great opportunity for me as a new coach to see the girls compete and to get us together as a team.
GopherSports.com: Do you have an idea of what sort of team identity you will try to install in this program?
Thompson: Team first. That has always been my thing, what is best for the team. A lot of these girls come from individual junior ranks, and to be able to bring them together is really important to me. Adding a blue collar attitude to the team identity, and having high intensity, is just the overall culture I want to create around here.
GopherSports.com: This being your first time being a Head Coach, who would you say you model your coaching after?
Thompson: I have been fortunate to be around a lot of great mentors and coaches in my life. I first started at Yale as a volunteer, Danielle Lund McNamara gave me a great opportunity and it is really what gave me that passion to get into college coaching. Then at Boise State, my first assistant job under Beck Roghaar, I learned a lot at Boise and really grew as a coach with his guidance, and then Notre Dame, I played there and have a lot of respect for Jay Louderback, as my college coach, mentor and one of the most respected college coaches in the game. I also feel really fortunate to have a twin sister, Christian Thompson, that is the Head Coach at the University of Denver, so being able to bounce ideas off of her is a great resource. Those are the mentors that have really helped shape me to where I am today, and of course I have my own ideas on how I want to run a program.
GopherSports.com: In many cases, people start playing tennis at an extremely young age, how were you introduced to tennis?
Thompson: I started when I was about six years old. There was a free camp at a local park down the street from my house, so my twin sister and I went. We had our first coach, Craig Witcher, say he thought we had some talent for our age, so he offered us free lessons and helped build and develop our games and that is how it all started. We were also fortunate to work with Rita Agassi and Ken Shioi, who helped shape and grow our games and are great pros in the Las Vegas tennis community. I wouldn't be were I am at today without the help, guidance and mentorship of these distinguished pros.
GopherSports.com: You mentioned you got your first opportunity as a volunteer coach at Yale, what motivated you to continue to pursue college coaching?
Thompson: The biggest reason I continue is that tennis has always been a part of my life, and I always see it as a part of my life, tennis is my identity and who I am. I was given so much as a junior and in college, and I just want to repay that back and there is nothing more that I want to do than to give back to these young women here.
GopherSports.com: Do you still get chances to get on the court and play tennis?
Thompson: Unfortunately I haven't played in a while. My last tournament, my sister and I played in a challenger that we ended up winning in doubles. We kind hung up the rackets after that tournament. I still like hitting with the girls here, that is something I am passionate about.
GopherSports.com: What is something that many people do not know about you?
Thompson: Many people know that I am a twin, and that I played with my sister, but I do not think there are any other twins that are both coaches in Division I college tennis, male or female. I also love going to the beach anytime I can, so I am eager to go visit as many lakes around here this summer.
GopherSports.com: Do you have any last comments that you want people to know?
Thompson: The biggest thing is to just emphasize how thrilled I am for this opportunity. I know it is a privilege, and I want to get out there and do things the right way and lead this team to compete for Big Ten titles and consistently make the NCAA Tournament.
