University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Sweet 16: Lama Named Texas COTY
4/6/2020 3:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MEAN GREEN SWEET 16
Sujay Lama Named United States Professional Tennis Association Texas Coach of the Year
His third time winning the award
FOR A THIRD TIME, NORTH TEXAS WOMEN'S TENNIS HEAD COACH SUJAY LAMA WAS NAMED THE USPTA TEXAS COACH OF THE YEAR. THE MEAN GREEN'S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST TENNIS COACH LED NORTH TEXAS TO A TEXAS DOUBLES REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR. THE SAME DOUBLES TEAM WENT TO THE NCAA DOUBLES NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE MEAN GREEN WOMEN'S TENNIS PROGRAM ONCE AGAIN POSTED ONE OF THE HIGHEST GRADE POINT AVERAGES IN THE NATION.
"I've known Sujay since his early days at the University of North Texas and have been thoroughly impressed by his coaching style and what he has brought to the women's tennis program at UNT since 2005. I have so much respect and admiration for coach Lama, that I hired one of his former players for my professional teaching staff at Bent Tree Country Club, because of the values he instills in every young lady he has worked with, which is beyond reproach. I'm so excited for Sujay to be a recipient of this prestigious award from USPTA Texas as he really deserves this honor."USPTA Texas President Craig Bell.
DENTON — This past Friday, North Texas head tennis coach Sujay Lama was announced the 2019 United States Professional Tennis Association Texas Coach of the Year. It's the third time Lama has received the award.
The Mean Green tennis team's all-time winningest coach who has put UNT on the collegiate tennis map, guided North Texas to its first Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional doubles championship last year. Furthermore, he has led UNT to three conference championships, multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, 16 student-athletes to 28 all-conference honors and over 165 total victories while in Denton. In total, the veteran coach has amassed over 275 wins as a NCAA Division I head coach.
"I've known Sujay since his early days at the University of North Texas and have been thoroughly impressed by his coaching style and what he has brought to the women's tennis program at UNT since 2005."said USPTA Texas President Craig Bell. "I have so much respect and admiration for coach Lama, that I hired one of his former players for my professional teaching staff at Bent Tree Country Club, because of the values he instills in every young lady he has worked with, which is beyond reproach. I'm so excited for Sujay to be a recipient of this prestigious award from USPTA Texas as he really deserves this honor."
Every year Lama has been at North Texas, the Mean Green have been named an ITA All-Academic Team and they constantly own one of the highest team grade point averages at UNT. Over the past 10 years, he's had at least three student-athletes named ITA scholar athletes for having a 3.50 or higher G.P.A. Furthermore, they are constantly recognized by the NCAA for its academic performance by receiving an Academic Progress Rate score that ranks in the top 10 percent in the nation.
A Nepal native, Lama founded the non-profit Project Nepal, which is aimed at educating orphaned and indigent Nepalese children. He's raised thousands of dollars each year to fund the education of hundreds of orphanage children in his hometown of Kathmandu. Lama has been recognized by the University of North Texas for his effort in mentoring Nepalese students at UNT.
In his nearly 14 years at North Texas, Lama has built a tennis community that can be seen at every North Texas tennis match.
Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis teacher certification and professional development.
