WILMINGTON, N.C. – Second-year coach Mait DuBois, the architect of UNC Wilmington’s stunning run to the Colonial Athletic Association men’s tennis championship this spring, has been named the Mideast Coach-of-the-Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

      DuBois took over the program in 2007-08 and launched its transformation. The Seahawks went 15-7 last season, setting the stage for this season’s dramatic rise to the pinnacle of the Colonial Athletic Association.

      UNCW finished 19-6 this year, including 7-0 in the CAA, and captured its first conference title by dethroning 11-time champion VCU in the championship match. The Seahawks racked up their first national ranking and climbed as high as No. 58 in the ITA rankings.

      “I’m very appreciative and humbled to be chosen for this award,” said DuBois. “It’s especially rewarding because we’re in a region with so many great programs and coaches, so it means a lot to me. An award like this demonstrates how many great people are involved in our program.

      “Much of the credit truly goes to our very supportive athletic director, our athletic administration, assistant coach Taylor Vaughn, women’s coach Jenny Garrity, and a team that has shown excellent commitment and character all year. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by all of these people.”

      DuBois accomplished the feat with a young team. The Seahawks only lose one senior, Gustavo Bertei, from this year’s club and return mostly freshmen and sophomores from the squad that fell to No. 26 Virginia Tech in the NCAA Regionals last weekend in Athens, Ga.

      DuBois added, “I’m most pleased that our program is now receiving recognition on the national level. That was one of my main goals when I came. To be included on any list that has eight programs across the entire country is a true indicator of how far our program has come, and how bright the future of UNCW tennis is.”

      The ITA’s other regional winners included Scott Wilkins of Boston College (Northeast), Sam Winterbotham of Tennessee (Southeast), Brian Etzkin of Cleveland State (Midwest), James Wadley of Oklahoma State (Central), Matt Knoll of Baylor (South Central), Don Ball of New Mexico State (Mountain) and Tad Berkowitz of Arizona (West).