Longtime Arizona Wildcats women’s tennis head coach Vicky Maes has stepped down from her position, the University of Arizona announced Thursday.
The UA alumna had been at the helm for the last 17 seasons.
“The University of Arizona is a special place. The opportunity to play and coach for this amazing institution has been one of the biggest honors of my life,” Maes said in a statement.
“For 24 years, I have given my heart and soul to the tennis program and, in return, it has helped shape my values and who I am as a person. As a coach, I have always attempted to instill those same values into our student-athletes. I am proud of all of the young women who have come through our program and will always root for the next generation of Wildcats. However, it is time for me to reassess and start a new chapter in my life. I’d like to thank Jim Livengood for giving me the opportunity to lead this program all those years ago, and Becky Bell for bringing me here to play and represent the A with the utmost pride.”
Maes is considered the best UA women’s tennis player of all-time. She was a four-time All-American, a four-time All-Pac-10 performer, and the conference’s player of the year in 1996. She was inducted into UA’s Hall of Fame in 2003.
Maes took over as Arizona’s head coach in 2001, three years after her playing career ended, and produced four All-Americans, seven All-Conference honorees, and led the Wildcats to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
But Arizona went 9-16 in 2018, including an 0-10 mark in the Pac-12, after going 11-13 and 2-8 in 2017, respectively.
A search for a new coach will begin immediately. Assistant coach Andrew Veeder will “provide leadership” in the meantime.
“Vicky will always be one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of Arizona women’s tennis and we would like to thank her for her service to the university as our head coach,” Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke said.