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Bryan Juinio returns for his third year as assistant coach for the men's tennis team after a one-year hiatus in 2008-09. Juinio was an assistant coach for the Bulldogs under Jay Udwadia from 2006-08 and a volunteer assistant in 2005-06. Juinio, a former Bulldog, also has a storied playing history that continues to the present. In each of Juinio's three prior seasons on the Fresno State staff, the Bulldogs posted winning records and advanced to the WAC Championship match. During the 2008-09 season, he was an assistant coach for Fresno Pacific men's and women's tennis squads. Both the Fresno Pacific men and women were the Golden State Athletic Conference Champions that year and the men won the 2009 NAIA National Championship. Juinio was named the 2009 NAIA West Regional Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts at Fresno Pacific. Previously he also was an assistant at Pepperdine under former Fresno State coach Peter Smith in 1999-00. Juinio helped the Waves to an amazing 24-3 record and a three seed in the NCAA tournament. Pepperdine finished the year with a No. 11 ranking. He has also spent five years in Fresno as a teaching pro. As a player, Juinio is one of the greatest in Fresno State history. He played for the Bulldogs from 1992-96, compiling 105 career singles victories which ranks second all-time in the school record books. He was ranked as high as No. 50 in singles, No. 8 in doubles and was a two-time NCAA doubles participant with his twin brother, Ryan, as the two became the first tandem in school history to qualify for the NCAA doubles draw. The Bulldogs were unranked in Juinio's freshman year, but the improved in each of the following campaigns to notch season-ending rankings of No. 29 ('94), No. 20 ('95) and No. 6 ('96). The 1996 Bulldogs still remain the best men's tennis team to grace the Fresno State campus after finishing the year ranked No. 6 and reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Following his college career, Juinio played in the Davis Cup for the Philippines from 1997-99 where he went 6-2 for the team. He lost a five-set match to Thailand's No. 1 player, Paradorn Srichaphan, who has been ranked as high as No. 9 in the world and is currently a Top 40 player. Juinio has also played in many Open tournaments since his college days. He attained a No. 1 Men's Open ranking in the Southern California section in 1999 and was the top Men's Open player again in the Northern California section in 2003 and 2006. He has won the Fresno City Championships eight times, including seven in a row from 2001-2007. Juinio has won some of Southern California's toughest Open tournaments that featured ranked ATP players and top Division I college athletes. He has won titles at the Ojai (Ojai, Calif.), Top Gun (Huntington Beach), SCTA Sectionals (Claremont), USTA National Hardcourt Championships (San Diego) and the Adoption Guild (Newport Beach). "Bryan brings instant respect to this team because he's such a great player," said head coach Jay Udwadia. "For the players to hit against him, and take some of his advice, is very beneficial." Juinio and his wife, Kirsten, have two children. His wife, formerly Kirsten Nelson, was an outstanding sprinter and hurdler on the track and field team from 1993-97. |
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