By Catherine Laroche

On July 3rd, the University of Louisville introduced Mark Beckham as the new women’s tennis coach.

“It kind of caught me off guard,” Beckham said. “I wasn’t expecting it. My mind started racing and I had to make some decisions fast.”

Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator Julie Hermann offered the job to Beckham, who accepted just a day later.

“The only reason why it took me that amount of time is because I absolutely loved what I was doing with Coach (Rex) Ecarma and the men’s team,” Beckham said.

“I realized that I was giving up something that I loved to go and do something else. I just wanted to make sure I was making the right decision, and I’m 100 percent sure that I have made the right decision. It’s time for me to make this change.”

Although Beckham is new to the position, he’s certainly not new to the Cardinals’ tennis program. A four-year letter winner at U of L, he played under Ecarma from 1988-1992. However, Beckham’s tennis career didn’t end there.

Beckham continued to associate himself with the U of L program as a graduate assistant while finishing his degree in middle school education. After graduation, Beckham would teach until 2:30 p.m., then return to U of L at 3 p.m. to finish practice with the team, a routine he maintained for eight years.

It wasn’t long until Beckham was hired as a full-time assistant coach for the men’s and women’s tennis teams.

After three years coaching both teams, he began strictly working with the men’s team until accepting the position as women’s head coach.

Senior Robyn White was very happy to hear of Beckham’s promotion.

“I just remember smiling, being happy and in disbelief,” White said. “I was kind of taken back by it. I’m really excited, especially because I know him and he’s one of the reasons I even thought about coming to Louisville in the first place.”

Despite caution to the contrary, Beckham believes there is not much of a difference in coaching the different teams.

“Girls want to work hard just like guys do,” Beckham said. “They want to learn and they want to be pushed; and that’s what I do. I may have to handle them slightly different as far as how I talk to them, but only slightly. Besides the obvious difference that I’m dealing with women now as opposed to men, on the court there’s not a whole lot of difference. They are receptive to everything and they want to work hard just like men do.”

Beckham has big plans for his new squad. His major concern is the team’s ability to last long enough for a three-hour match.

“You have to be able to last until that last minute of that three-hour match, and still feel fresh,” Beckham said.

Beckham’s goals for the women are the same as the men’s: to compete for conference championships and grow accustomed to participating in NCAA tournaments.

“I’m really excited about this season and I know he is too,” junior Bianca Gorbea said. “I know he is going to help us reach our goals for this season.”

Beckham inherits a Cardinal team eager for change.

“I feel that this program has the potential to be as good as the program I just left, and any program that’s out there,” Beckham said.

“I feel that I can build this team into a team that is going to be in the NCAA tournament on a regular basis.”