Simon Thibodeau Position: Head Coach Experience: 6th Year Alma Mater: University of Sherbrooke (Quebec), 1997

In just five seasons, Simon Thibodeau has established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation, the WAC, and Fresno State history.

The list of milestones during his short tenure is already impressive: five WAC titles; four appearances in the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament; seven All-Americans; seven individual national title appearances for players under his supervision; the best year-end ranking in program history; and a winning percentage of 75 percent while playing a schedule laced with some of the top teams in the nation.

The Bulldogs enjoyed another great season in 2008. Thibodeau led the Bulldogs to a 22-8 record and their fourth overall appearance in the NCAA Round of 16. Fresno State won the WAC for the seventh straight year, eighth overall. Under Thibodeau, Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe reached No. 1 in the national doubles rankings and earned a spot in the finals of the 2008 NCAA doubles championship. Four Bulldogs earned All-American honors last season and Thibodeau also helped Fresno State host the NCAA first and second rounds for the second time. During the 2008 fall season Thibodeau guided Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova to the ITA National Indoors doubles championship, the Northwest regional doubles titles and the All-American doubles final. Gloria also triumphed in the Northwest Regional singles championship.

Thibodeau quickly made his presence felt during the 2003-04 season. The Bulldogs won the Western Athletic Conference title, reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament and guided Jelena Pandzic to the final of the NCAA Singles Tournament - all in Thibodeau's first season.

In 2005, Thibodeau willed his team to yet another successful year. Despite being forced to deal with the eligibility issues and significant injuries to half of the lineup, Thibodeau still managed to lead his squad to a 16-9 record and their fourth WAC title. The Bulldogs also received a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2006 season was also a year to be remembered. The Bulldogs won the WAC title again. The Bulldogs went to Berkeley, Calif., for the NCAA Regional and beat Sacramento State and California, just as they did in 2004. This time it was not a singles player reaching the NCAA final, but doubles tandem Lucia Sainz and Katarina Winterhalter. Thibodeau's dynamic duo finished the season ranked No. 6 in the country with a Northwest Regional championship and appearances in the ITA All-American and NCAA Doubles finals.

Thibodeau continued to help the Bulldogs compete with the nation's elite in 2007. Fresno State finished 2007 with a 22-4 record as they won another WAC title and reached the NCAA Round of 16. Gloria, a sophomore at the time reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA singles Championship.

Players have received individual awards on an incredible level under Thibodeau. In 2004, Pandzic became the first player in Fresno State history to receive an individual national award when she was selected the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Rookie of the Year. She also was honored as the WAC Player of the Year and WAC Freshman of the Year. Gloria has won three WAC Player of the Year titles. Gloria and Renata Kucerkova earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors in each of their first seasons.

The Bulldogs' mastery of the Western Athletic Conference has continued, as well. Entering the 2008-09 season, Fresno State has won seven WAC titles (a conference record), 22 consecutive league tournament matches and 33 straight over league opponents.

Just as impressive as Fresno State's on-court success has been the way Thibodeau's players have excelled in the classroom. The Bulldogs received distinction as an ITA All-Academic team in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 awarded to those programs that achieve an overall GPA over 3.2.

In 2008, the Bulldogs earned a team GPA of 3.6, while Gloria, Petukhova, Haskett, Heroux and Kucerkova, as well as Danon Beatty and Bruna Paes earned Academic All-WAC honors.

Thibodeau came to Fresno State from the University of Arizona, where he served as the assistant women's tennis coach from 2000-03. While there, he was fundamental in helping lead the Wildcats from a team who was ranked in the 50s nationally to two NCAA Tournament appearances and a place among the nation's top 25.

In addition, from September to November in 2001, Thibodeau served as Arizona's interim head coach after the departure of Brad Dancer, who left to become Fresno State's men's tennis coach.

Thibodeau was a national coach with the Canadian Tennis Federation from 1997-01, traveling around the world to tournaments and clinics. With the Canadian Tennis Federation, he supervised national training camps, coached members of the national junior team and assisted with the Canadian Federation Cup squad. With the Canadian Tennis Federation, he coached such touring professionals as Helen Kelesi, Sonya Jeyaseelan, Renee Simpson, Marie-Eve Pelletier and Beier Ko. He also helped train Martina Navratilova.

Thibodeau received his bachelor's degree in science/physical activity from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec) in 1997. With this background, Thibodeau owns extensive knowledge of physical conditioning, sport psychology and sports management. Thibodeau is a native of Repentigny, Quebec, and is fluent in French.

Records while at Fresno State