Burson Named Assistant Tennis Coach
8/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Aug. 23, 2004
Houston - With the 2004 season about to get underway, head coach John Severance of the women's tennis team at the University of Houston announced the hiring of Amy Burson as the new assistant coach for the Cougars.
Burson joins a young coaching staff as earlier this summer Severance was named the head coach of the Cougars after three seasons as an assistant to former head coach Jennifer Hyde who moved to Florida to coach her alma mater, Florida State.
"I am very excited to have Amy join our team," said Severance. "I think she will be a tremendous asset to both the program and the university."
"I am really excited about being a part of the team from a coaching perspective," said Burson. "It seems like Houston is in a good position where they are already a good program but still have room for growth. It is exciting to be in a situation like that."
As a student athlete at the University of Kentucky, Burson understood the importance of hard work on the court and in the classroom.
"Amy has a strong work ethic in everything she does from tennis to school," said Severance. "She will be a good role model for the girls."
Burson, an All-American and All-SEC team selection in 2002-2003, was an NCAA Double Finalist in 2003, the South Regional Doubles Champion in 2002, the ITA National Hard Courts Singles Champion in 2002 and the team captain from 2002-2003.
In the classroom she worked equally as hard, being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 2000-2003, made the Dean's List six different times and graduated Cum Laude in 2003 from Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
"I have been through what (the athletes) are going through so I can understand all that they are dealing with," said Burson. "I want to be an encouragement to them and a help for them in their schooling and athletics." The Cougars will participate in four tournaments during the fall season where Burson will get her first shot at coaching. Burson said, "I think this program has a lot that it can do and being a part of that and having the opportunity to be here is just awesome."