Western New England College

Coaching Staff

Head Coach
Doug Pearson

Assistant Coach
Tom Michaud

Athletics Staff
Tel. 413-782-1202
Fax. 413-796-2121

Michael Theulen
Athletics Director

Joe Sassi
Assistant
Athletics Director

Cyndi Costanzo
Assistant Athletics Director

Ken Cerino
Athletic Communications Director

Kim O'Leary
Head Athletic Trainer

Mike Vallee
Athletic Trainer

Western New England College

DOUG PEARSON NAMED MEN'S TENNIS COACH AND COORDINATOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Jennifer Kolins assumes new role of CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Western New England College president Dr. Anthony S. Caprio announced May 17 that Doug Pearson will become the new coordinator of physical education and men's tennis coach.

Dr. Caprio also announced that Mike Theulen will succeed Pearson as men's basketball coach while continuing as the school's director of athletics.

In another coaching change, men and women's tennis coach Jennifer Kolins will become one of the College's new CHAMPS/Life Skill Coordinators with assistant director of athletics Cynthia Costanzo. Kolins will continue as the women's tennis coach.

Pearson led the Golden Bears to a 100-60 record (62.5%) in six years, including two appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. He inherited a program that had a losing record for eight straight seasons and quickly turned the Golden Bears into a winner with a 14-11 mark in 1998-99 that was the institution's most wins in nine years.

Pearson guided the Golden Bears to back-to-back 20-win seasons and Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament titles in 2000 and 2001. He led his teams to five consecutive winning seasons from 1998-2003. The Golden Bears posted a 12-14 record this past winter after losing two 1,000-point scorers (forward Kris Hebert and guard Mike O'Connor) from the previous season. Pearson has the highest winningest percentage (62.5%) in men's basketball at the College.

For the past three seasons, Pearson has served as the chairman of the GNAC Men's Basketball Committee. He was the 2000 GNAC Coach-of-the-Year.

Pearson, a native of Manchester, CT, has an overall record of 291-189 (60.6%) in 21 years as a head basketball coach on the high school and college levels. During that time, his teams won seven conference championships.

In addition to his success on the court, Pearson and his teams have been active in numerous community projects, including Habitat for Humanity, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Dream to Read program, and Coaches vs. Cancer clinics.

Prior to joining the Western New England College staff, Pearson spent eight years as an assistant and associate coach at Springfield College under Theulen, who was the head basketball coach there at the time.

Pearson also served as the coordinator of physical education for the Manchester (CT) Public School system for 15 years.

"This was a tough decision to make after coaching basketball as an assistant and head coach for 32 years," said Pearson. "I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching at Western New England College and look forward to my new duties."

Kolins posted a 40-18 record (69.0 winning percentage) as men's tennis coach the past four seasons, including an 8-8 mark this spring. Her teams captured GNAC Tournament titles in 2002 and 2003. Kolins was named the GNAC Coach-of-the-Year in 2002 and 2003. For the past year, Kolins has served as the athletics department Community Outreach Coordinator.

When Western New England College became a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) CHAMPS/Life Skills institution this spring, Kolins took on the added responsibility as a program coordinator with Costanzo. The CHAMPS/Life Skills program supports efforts of student-athletes toward intellectual development and graduation, encourages the development of leadership skills, promotes respect for diversity, encourages a commitment for community service, and prepares student-athletes for life after graduation.

"We are all very excited about the potential impact of our CHAMPS/Life Skills Program," said Theulen. "Having such talented professionals on our staff made these changes necessary as our athletics program continues to grow."

Jennifer Kolins profile
(Prior to 2004 season)

Jennifer Kolins will begin her fourth season as the men's tennis coach at Western New England College in 2004. She also serves as the athletics department CHAMPS/Lifeskills Coordinator.

In 2003 Kolins led the Golden Bears to the finest season in school history with a 12-3 record for its 13th consecutive winning season, which included a perfect 5-0 mark for first place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).

Western New England College put the finishing touches on its sensational season by repeating as GNAC Tournament champions.

In 2002 Kolins led WNEC to a 9-5 record and a tie for first place in the conference with a 4-1 mark. The Golden Bears then captured its first GNAC Tournament crown and Kolins was selected the GNAC Coach-of-the-Year.

Western New England College compiled an 11-2 record in 2001, which included a perfect 5-0 mark for first place in the conference. WNEC finished second in the GNAC Tournament.

Kolins also serves as the head coach of women's tennis at Western New England College.

A native of Philadelphia, Kolins graduated from the University of Hartford in 1999 with a bachelor of arts degree in interpersonal and organizational communication. She was a four-year member of the Hawks women's tennis team and three-time team captain.

Kolins was the recipient of the Most Valuable Teammate, the Collegiate Athletic Essence of Passion, and the J.C. Penny Athletic Achievement Awards. She was the assistant women's tennis coach at Hartford during the 1999 fall season.

Kolins served as the boys' varsity tennis coach at the Watkinson School in West Hartford, Connecticut for four years prior to joining the Western New England College athletics staff. Her team placed first in the CISAC Small School Division.

In recent summers Kolins was a tennis teaching professional at Hopmeadow Country Club in Simsbury, Connecticut and was a tennis instructor at the Judy Dixon Women's Tennis Camp in Amherst, Massachusetts.

She also was a teaching professional for adults and juniors, and program coordinator at the Simsbury Tennis House and Canton Racquet Club.

Kolins has worked in marketing and production for professional tennis events such as the Phoenix ATP Tour World Doubles Championship at the Hartford Civic Center, the WTA Pilot Pen Championship, in addition to the Hartford FoxForce squad in the new World Team Tennis League.

Kolins is a 1995 graduate of Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts where she majored in instrumental music with a minor in visual arts. Kolins also was the captain of the girls' volleyball team for two years and served three years as the captain of the boys' tennis team.

In the summer of 1996 Kolins coached in National Junior Tennis League for boys and girls teams in inner city Philadelphia. She coached junior tennis at Avon Old Farms in the summer of 1997.

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