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

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

The list of milestones during his short tenure is already impressive: six WAC titles; five appearances in the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament; nine 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.

Fresno State added more team and individual trophies to the case in 2009. The Bulldogs continue their reign atop the WAC, by their eighth-straight WAC Championships. They were also the first-ever WAC regular season champions, after going 8-0 against conference foes and outscoring them by a combined 54-2.

The Bulldogs also advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the fourth-consecutive year. The Fresno State doubles tandem of Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament, to earn All-American honors for the second-straight year. The pair also ended the season ranked No. 1 in the ITA Tennis Rankings and earned the 2009 ITA Doubles Team of the Year award.

The 2009 season also saw the commencement of the Melanie Gloria era at Fresno State., as she won her fourth WAC Player of the Year, climbed to No. 2 on the school wins list with 123, played in her fourth NCAA Singles Tournament and was named the 2009 ITA Northwest Region Senior Player of the Year.

During the 2008 fall season Thibodeau guided Kucerkova and 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.

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, 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.

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 four WAC Player of the Year titles. Gloria and Kucerkova earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors in each of their first seasons. Gloria was also named the 2009 ITA Northwest Region Senior Player of the Year and Kucerkova and Petukhova collected the 2009 ITA National Doubles Team of the Year award.

The Bulldogs' mastery of the Western Athletic Conference has continued, as well. Entering the 2009-10 season, Fresno State has won nine WAC titles (a conference record), 25-uconsecutive league tournament matches and 41-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 2009, the Bulldogs achieved a team GPA of 3.6, while Gloria, Petukhova, Kucerkova, Danon Beatty and Bruna Paes earned Academic All-WAC honors. Petukhova and Gloria each received ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors and Gloria was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American.

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