ITA National JUCO Year-End Awards Release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - American River College (ARC) women's tennis head coach Steve Dunmore has been honored as the National Junior College Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). This award recognizes Dunmore as the top women's tennis coach for all community and junior colleges in the US. It follows Dunmore's selection as the ITA's California Coach of the Year.

"This is a richly deserved honor for Steve," said Athletics Dean Derrick Booth. "Steve is hard-working, dedicated to the art of coaching, cares for his athletes off and on the court, and is tireless in his efforts to strengthen our program."

The ITA praised Dunmore for being highly respected in the northern California community college tennis community for his team's quality of play and sportsmanship. The coaching award recognizes more than just success on the court, as it also credits those coaches whose teams have a track record of sportsmanship and service off the court.

"I'm very humbled and honored by this award," said Dunmore. "This award recognizes the great things happening here at ARC and I'm very excited about our program's future."

In 2018, ARC women's tennis finished second in northern California and enjoyed a 13-2 record. Several student athletes made deep runs in the state championships tournament in both singles and doubles competition.

Dunmore has helped turn around a tennis program that in 2016 did not win a single match. The Beavers were 9-4 in 2017 and then were NorCal runners-up this year.

In addition, the ARC men's tennis program has finished second in the state for the past three years, winning the NorCal title all of those years.

"We've got something special going here at ARC," Booth noted. "I encourage local tennis athletes to check us out and think about the opportunities we have to offer."

(American River College Communications & Public Information)