FIU tennis aces new coaching hire


Katarina Patrovic FIU Tennis coach

Photo courtesy of FIUSports.com.

Katarina Petrovic, the seasoned tennis pro who most recently led the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to their 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as the lone coach on staff for most of the 2012 season, is the new head coach of FIU tennis.

The Serbian-born athlete is the 13th head coach in the history of the blue-and-gold program.

She comes to FIU after spending nine seasons with the South Carolina women’s tennis team. She joined the Gamecock coaching staff in 2004 following a stint as the sports manager at the Michael-Ann Russell Community Center in North Miami Beach. After serving as assistant coach her first five seasons at USC, she was promoted to associate head coach in the summer of 2009.

She served as the interim head coach from the end of last February until the hiring of Kevin Epley in June to replace legendary Gamecock Head Coach Arlo Elkins. A tireless recruiter, she helped bring in six All-SEC performers during her nine seasons with the Gamecocks.

“We are very fortunate to have hired a coach of the caliber of Katarina Petrovic,” said FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia. “She is a proven winner and tremendous recruiter and will continue to elevate our women’s tennis program to even greater heights.”

“I’m extremely excited to be named head coach of the FIU women’s tennis program,” Petrovic said. “There has been a lot of success at FIU and I look forward to continuing that tradition. This is a great institution both academically and athletically and I am proud to now be a part of it.”

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