University of Houston Athletics
Valeriya Zeleva Named Houston Tennis Head Coach
5/19/2026 11:00:00 AM | Tennis
2026 National Runner-Up and two-time AAC Player of the Year to lead Houston Tennis
HOUSTON — Valeriya Zeleva, the 2026 National Runner-Up Assistant Coach and two-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, was named the 12th head coach of the University of Houston Team program, pending approval from the UH System Board of Regents, Vice President of Athletics Eddie Nuñez announced Tuesday.
"We are thrilled to welcome Valeriya to Houston," Nuñez said. "She is a proven winner that has coached world class athletes to the highest level of collegiate tennis and helped her previous school to a Runner-Up finish at the NCAA Championships. She will help elevate our program to the next level."
Zeleva comes to Houston after three seasons as an assistant coach at Auburn where she helped the Tigers to a 2026 National Runner-Up finish, the 2026 SEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship titles and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I'm incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the women's tennis program at the University of Houston," Zeleva said. "I want to thank Eddie Nuñez, David Williams and Alvin Franklin for believing in me and trusting me with this program. From the beginning of this process, it was clear how committed everyone is to the future of Houston Athletics, and that made this opportunity really special to me."
This season, the Tigers won 37 matches with a perfect 22-0 record at home. Auburn ranked No. 1 in the national polls on multiple occasions and earned the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Zeleva helped coach a trio of SEC All-Conference honorees including the SEC Newcomer of the Year in Ekaterina Khairutdinova.
Following a 25-7 season that saw the Tigers finish in the Super Regional and Ava Esposito earning Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America honors, the ITA tabbed Zeleva as the Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2025.
"Houston is a place with great energy, great people and a strong foundation, and I'm excited to get to work," Zeleva said. "My goal is to build a program that competes at a high level, develops great young women and makes our alumni and fans proud. I'm looking forward to building relationships with our student-athletes, the university community and everyone who supports Cougar Tennis."
The most decorated player in UCF Women's Tennis history, Zeleva was unanimously named the AAC Player of the Year in 2021 after winning the award in 2019. She was named to the American All-Conference Team and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Singles Championships to become the first Knight to earn bids in the singles draw in multiple years.
Zeleva was ranked as both a singles and doubles player climbing as high as No. 17 in the ITA singles rankings and No. 7 in doubles. The singles ranking was both a personal and program best for Zeleva and the Knights.
As a sophomore, Zeleva became the first player in UCF history to appear in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the same season as she advanced to the Sweet 16 in doubles with her partner Ksenia Kuznetsova.
The Moscow, Russia, native never missed the NCAA Tournament as a player and her team never suffered more than five losses in a season during her time in Orlando.
Before UCF, Zeleva earned a worldwide No. 28 ITF Junior ranking and had extensive professional tennis experience as she was ranked #538 in the WTA.
Prior to joining the coaching staff in Auburn, Zeleva coached at Gorin Tennis Academy in Granite Bay, Calif.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
Â
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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"We are thrilled to welcome Valeriya to Houston," Nuñez said. "She is a proven winner that has coached world class athletes to the highest level of collegiate tennis and helped her previous school to a Runner-Up finish at the NCAA Championships. She will help elevate our program to the next level."
Zeleva comes to Houston after three seasons as an assistant coach at Auburn where she helped the Tigers to a 2026 National Runner-Up finish, the 2026 SEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship titles and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I'm incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the women's tennis program at the University of Houston," Zeleva said. "I want to thank Eddie Nuñez, David Williams and Alvin Franklin for believing in me and trusting me with this program. From the beginning of this process, it was clear how committed everyone is to the future of Houston Athletics, and that made this opportunity really special to me."
This season, the Tigers won 37 matches with a perfect 22-0 record at home. Auburn ranked No. 1 in the national polls on multiple occasions and earned the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Zeleva helped coach a trio of SEC All-Conference honorees including the SEC Newcomer of the Year in Ekaterina Khairutdinova.
Following a 25-7 season that saw the Tigers finish in the Super Regional and Ava Esposito earning Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America honors, the ITA tabbed Zeleva as the Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2025.
"Houston is a place with great energy, great people and a strong foundation, and I'm excited to get to work," Zeleva said. "My goal is to build a program that competes at a high level, develops great young women and makes our alumni and fans proud. I'm looking forward to building relationships with our student-athletes, the university community and everyone who supports Cougar Tennis."
The most decorated player in UCF Women's Tennis history, Zeleva was unanimously named the AAC Player of the Year in 2021 after winning the award in 2019. She was named to the American All-Conference Team and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Singles Championships to become the first Knight to earn bids in the singles draw in multiple years.
Zeleva was ranked as both a singles and doubles player climbing as high as No. 17 in the ITA singles rankings and No. 7 in doubles. The singles ranking was both a personal and program best for Zeleva and the Knights.
As a sophomore, Zeleva became the first player in UCF history to appear in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the same season as she advanced to the Sweet 16 in doubles with her partner Ksenia Kuznetsova.
The Moscow, Russia, native never missed the NCAA Tournament as a player and her team never suffered more than five losses in a season during her time in Orlando.
Before UCF, Zeleva earned a worldwide No. 28 ITF Junior ranking and had extensive professional tennis experience as she was ranked #538 in the WTA.
Prior to joining the coaching staff in Auburn, Zeleva coached at Gorin Tennis Academy in Granite Bay, Calif.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
Â
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.
Â
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