Katarina Adamovic Named Houston Tennis Head Coach
6/3/2024 9:00:00 AM | Tennis
All-American, All-Big 12 and WAC Coach of the Year to lead Cougars
HOUSTON – Back-to-back WAC Tournament Champion and 2024 WAC Coach of the Year Katarina Adamovic (Add-ah-mo-vic) has been named the 11th head coach in University of Houston Tennis history, pending approval from the UH System Board of Regents, Vice President of Athletics Chris Pezman announced Monday.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the addition of Katarina to lead our tennis program," Pezman said. "She is a young, energetic, up-and-coming coach who has had an incredible amount of success in a short amount of time at Grand Canyon. I can't wait to see how she's going to replicate that here at the University of Houston as we continue to grow into the Big 12."
Adamovic comes to Houston after spending two seasons as the head coach at Grand Canyon University where she led the Lopes to the 2024 WAC Regular Season Championship and back-to-back WAC Tournament crowns to advance to two-straight NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Houston Women's Tennis program," Adamovic said. "I'm thrilled to be back in the Big 12 Conference and to start this exciting journey. This marks the beginning of a new era for Houston Tennis, and I can't wait to help the school become the next big destination in college tennis. I look forward to building a strong, competitive team and contributing to the legacy of excellence at the University of Houston."
In 2024, Adamovic coached Natasha Puehse to WAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP honors and helped two other student-athletes reach First-Team All-WAC recognition en route to an undefeated record in conference play. Among those First-Team All-Conference honorees were Santa Strombacha, who set a GCU Division I record with 22 singles wins.
The Lopes made their first-ever appearance in the ITA rankings, reaching as high as No. 49 in the nation before finishing 2024 at No. 57.
During her first season at GCU in 2023, the Lopes finished with 15 wins, including an 8-2 record at home, tying a GCU Division I record. Adamovic coached six Lopes to All-WAC awards, including four first-team honors from Puehse and Strombacha.
A native of Cacak, Serbia, Adamovic began her coaching career at Cincinnati as an assistant coach for the women's tennis team from 2018-21. The Bearcats finished with winning records in her first two seasons on staff and advanced to the quarterfinals of the American Athletics Conference Tournament in 2018, the program's best finish in three seasons.
Following her stint at Cincinnati, Adamovic spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Missouri. While on staff, the Tigers recorded their second-best finish in the SEC, one of the toughest conferences in the country.
As a player, Adamovic was a top 20-ranked collegiate player at a perennial powerhouse, and had a decorated career at Oklahoma State, capped by being named 2016 NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player. The four-time Big 12 All-Conference selection led Oklahoma State to back-to-back Big 12 Championships in 2016 and 2017.
A testament to her competitive fire and positive leadership, Adamovic drew the attention of the Oklahoma State women's basketball coaching staff at the end of her tennis career and awarded her with a scholarship for the 2017-18 season. The staff recognized the positive impact she could bring to the team culture as she put the finishing touches on her degree.
Adamovic appeared in three games on the hardwood that season and was a key off-the-court influence on a team that went 21-11 and won an NCAA Tournament game.
Finishing her collegiate playing career with 75 singles and 91 doubles victories, Adamovic's .789 doubles win percentage ranks No. 1 in Oklahoma State history since the school joined the Big 12 in 1996.
Adamovic was selected to the NCAA Singles Championships and had a breakout junior year in 2016, when she finished 32-3 in doubles and 23-11 in singles earning All-American honors. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships and finished at No. 17 in the ITA singles rankings.
In 2016, Adamovic led the Cowgirls to the national championship match, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Stanford. For her efforts, Adamovic was named the NCAA Tournament MVP and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Singles Championship.
In her youth career, Adamovic was a Serbian national champion in the seniors, U18, U16, U10 and junior divisions. She was ranked in the WTA in singles and doubles.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarTennis on X, formerly known as Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTennis or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartennis.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the addition of Katarina to lead our tennis program," Pezman said. "She is a young, energetic, up-and-coming coach who has had an incredible amount of success in a short amount of time at Grand Canyon. I can't wait to see how she's going to replicate that here at the University of Houston as we continue to grow into the Big 12."
Adamovic comes to Houston after spending two seasons as the head coach at Grand Canyon University where she led the Lopes to the 2024 WAC Regular Season Championship and back-to-back WAC Tournament crowns to advance to two-straight NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Houston Women's Tennis program," Adamovic said. "I'm thrilled to be back in the Big 12 Conference and to start this exciting journey. This marks the beginning of a new era for Houston Tennis, and I can't wait to help the school become the next big destination in college tennis. I look forward to building a strong, competitive team and contributing to the legacy of excellence at the University of Houston."
In 2024, Adamovic coached Natasha Puehse to WAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP honors and helped two other student-athletes reach First-Team All-WAC recognition en route to an undefeated record in conference play. Among those First-Team All-Conference honorees were Santa Strombacha, who set a GCU Division I record with 22 singles wins.
The Lopes made their first-ever appearance in the ITA rankings, reaching as high as No. 49 in the nation before finishing 2024 at No. 57.
During her first season at GCU in 2023, the Lopes finished with 15 wins, including an 8-2 record at home, tying a GCU Division I record. Adamovic coached six Lopes to All-WAC awards, including four first-team honors from Puehse and Strombacha.
A native of Cacak, Serbia, Adamovic began her coaching career at Cincinnati as an assistant coach for the women's tennis team from 2018-21. The Bearcats finished with winning records in her first two seasons on staff and advanced to the quarterfinals of the American Athletics Conference Tournament in 2018, the program's best finish in three seasons.
Following her stint at Cincinnati, Adamovic spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Missouri. While on staff, the Tigers recorded their second-best finish in the SEC, one of the toughest conferences in the country.
As a player, Adamovic was a top 20-ranked collegiate player at a perennial powerhouse, and had a decorated career at Oklahoma State, capped by being named 2016 NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player. The four-time Big 12 All-Conference selection led Oklahoma State to back-to-back Big 12 Championships in 2016 and 2017.
A testament to her competitive fire and positive leadership, Adamovic drew the attention of the Oklahoma State women's basketball coaching staff at the end of her tennis career and awarded her with a scholarship for the 2017-18 season. The staff recognized the positive impact she could bring to the team culture as she put the finishing touches on her degree.
Adamovic appeared in three games on the hardwood that season and was a key off-the-court influence on a team that went 21-11 and won an NCAA Tournament game.
Finishing her collegiate playing career with 75 singles and 91 doubles victories, Adamovic's .789 doubles win percentage ranks No. 1 in Oklahoma State history since the school joined the Big 12 in 1996.
Adamovic was selected to the NCAA Singles Championships and had a breakout junior year in 2016, when she finished 32-3 in doubles and 23-11 in singles earning All-American honors. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships and finished at No. 17 in the ITA singles rankings.
In 2016, Adamovic led the Cowgirls to the national championship match, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Stanford. For her efforts, Adamovic was named the NCAA Tournament MVP and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Singles Championship.
In her youth career, Adamovic was a Serbian national champion in the seniors, U18, U16, U10 and junior divisions. She was ranked in the WTA in singles and doubles.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarTennis on X, formerly known as Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTennis or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartennis.
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