By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A key fixture in the landscape of Tennessee Tech tennis, Edu Mena's imprint on the program's success has been undeniable. One of the greatest to ever don the purple and gold as a student-athlete from 2014-18, Mena's transition into the Tech coaching ranks has been just as prosperous in helping guide the Golden Eagles to a pair of OVC regular-season championships as well as an OVC Tournament title since joining the staff in 2018-19.
A rapid rise that has seen Mena climb the ladder from volunteer assistant in 2018-19 to graduate assistant in 2019-20 to full-time time assistant in 2019-20, the Bultrago del Lozoya, Spain native will now hold a new title in his latest elevated role after being promoted to associate head coach of Tennessee Tech tennis.
"I am thrilled to announce Edu in his new role as associate head coach," TTU head coach Kenny Doyle said. "Edu is an exceptional person and that is what makes him an exceptional coach. His knowledge of the sport is amazing and he absolutely loves everything about it as well as everything about Tennessee Tech. He had a tremendous career playing here at TTU, and since he has become a coach, he has had a great connection with our student-athletes and is always strong at reading body language, which is an important skill as a coach. I am very proud of Edu and he is very deserving of this new role."
Since Mena's transition into the coaching realm after his playing career concluded in the spring of 2018, the Golden Eagles have continued their reign atop the OVC. In his first season on Doyle's staff in 2019, the purple and gold claimed both the conference's regular season and tournament championships, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament in the process.
As a graduate assistant coach in 2020, Mena helped oversee a Tech squad that appeared to be well on its way to another banner campaign before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19. After an 0-3 start at the hands of three nationally ranked teams, the Golden Eagles flourished to the tune of wins in five of their last six contests, which included a four-match winning streak at the time the year was called.
In his first year as a full-time assistant in 2021, the Golden Eagles once again reigned supreme with an OVC regular-season title behind a perfect 5-0 conference record. Tech rattled off a 10-match winning streak into the OVC Tournament championship match, but was forced to play shorthanded due to COVID-19 protocols that saw the purple and gold forfeit both a singles and doubles matchups, which played a role in the Golden Eagles being bested 4-3 by Belmont. TTU's 10-match heater was its longest winning streak since 2012.
As a student-athlete, Mena was arguably the greatest Golden Eagle to ever hit the courts. A two-time OVC Player of the Year, his 153 combined singles and doubles victories are the most in school history, 10 more than the next closest Golden Eagle. Mena is the only Tech player to ever eclipse the century mark in career singles nods, racking up a 105-37 (.739) overall record, which is 19 more wins than the next closest Golden Eagle in program history.
A four-time All-OVC recipient, Mena is the only player in program history to ever see his name appear three different times on the top-10 single-season wins list. His 33 victories in the 2015-16 season are the most ever in one year of TTU tennis, and in OVC action, Mena secured a 26-2 career conference mark.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
