Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

Rocky Poulin, a former Pacific Lutheran University men's tennisplayer who has coached and taught the sport for 24 years, wasannounced as the PLU men's tennis head coach on May 6, 2011.

Poulin, who served as a Lutes assistant coach during the 2011season, took over for Craig Hamilton, who retired after serving 13years as the program's head coach. Poulin now begins his thirdseason as head coach.

"It is very humbling and a great honor to have the opportunityto lead PLU men's tennis," Poulin said. "Of course, I am inspiredto continue to make Lute tennis one of the best tennis programs inthe country. The coaches before me have built a program that isrespected across the nation and I am honored to be following intheir footsteps."

Poulin played his tennis for legendary PLU Hall of Fame coachMike Benson, whose Lutes men's tennis teams won 24 NorthwestConference championships in 30 seasons. Hamilton led his PLU teamsto four conference titles during his tenure.

"Nobody has higher expectations than I do," Poulin said. "Wewill look for talented, hard-working, self-motivated young men whowant to learn what it means to be a good tennis player, but also agood person. I truly believe in creating an atmosphere around theprogram that is encouraging, positive and supportive.

"When my players leave this campus, I would like for them toreally understand the whole process of their experience at PLU. Iwant them to understand that what happens during the course of atennis match or a season is similar to life. These experiences willhelp them to be confident in their God-given abilities.

"We will work hard, respect the game, and each day we will getbetter at being a better person," he added.

Included in Poulin's 24 years of teaching and coaching tennisare stints as varsity and junior varsity coach at Puyallup andEmerald Ridge high schools. He also served assistant tennisprofessional at Gig Harbor Athletic Club, Fircrest Tennis Club andYakima Tennis Club, tennis professional coach at Seattle TennisClub, and assistant tennis summer coach at Boise State University.Poulin is a United States Professional Tennis Association certifiedcoach.

A native of Selah, Wash., Poulin played on four consecutiveconference championship teams (1992-95) while at PacificLutheran, and three times earned all-conference honors. He alsomade an appearance at the 1994 national tournament.Poulin played in three conference flighted singles finalswhile a Lute, winning at No. 5 singles in 1992 and 1994 afterfinishing second at No. 6 singles on 1993. He was a two-timeconference doubles champion, winning at No. 2 with Jon Zepp in 1993and at No. 3 with Bryant Green in 1994.

He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with ahealth education minor from Pacific Lutheran in 1995. Poulin laterearned a master's degree in educational technology from CityUniversity in Tacoma.

Poulin is a real estate agent in the area as well as a healthand fitness teacher in the Puyallup School District. He and hiswife, Shannon, have four children and are in the process ofadopting a child from Ethiopia.

Coaching Career Record