Heading into her fourth season at the helm, Hawai`i Hilo head men's and women's tennis coach Tina McDermott has taken both programs to new heights heading into the 2019 seasons.
The 2018 Vulcans (men) advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II National Championship, and were ranked as high as fifth during the year in the ITA national poll. McDermott's squad earned the No. 1 seed into the Pacific West Conference tournament, and won a first round NCAA tournament match, defeating Point Loma. The Vulcans finished 17-3 on the season, the best mark in school history, with two of their losses coming to a pair of teams that reached the NCAA semi-finals, which also happened to be two teams they beat earlier in the year (Azusa Pacific and Indianapolis).
McDermott was named the Pacific West Conference Men's Coach of the Year in 2018, as well as being selected as the ITA West Region Men's Coach of the Year. She also earned that same region award in 2017. In 2015, McDermott was awarded the USPTA College Coach of the Year (Hawaii Division).
McDermott came to UH Hilo in 2015-16, after serving as the head coach for one year at Whittler College (Calif.). Her 2016 UHH men's team finished 6-10. In 2017, she led the team to their first winning record in many years (13-11) and a third-place finish at the PacWest tournament. In 2018, they made the hugest of leaps to 17-3.
The 2017 and 2018 Vulcan men's teams were named the UH Hilo sports teams of the year.
The Vulcan women made great strides as well under the southern California native's leadership. Her first team won six matches, the 2017 team won five and the 2018 squad moved up to 8-10 on the year. Last spring's team qualified for the PacWest tournament for the first time in a number of years, going 1-1 at the championships.
In addition to outstanding play on the court, McDermott's team have also been honored for their work off of it. The 2018 men's and women's team were honored as UH Hilo's Community Service Teams of the Year. The women's teams has won back-to-back Wilson ITA West Region Community Service Awards.
Certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association, McDermott also teaches individuals and groups of all ages. She received her USPTA professional certification in 2014 and was an instructor at the Billie Jean King tennis Center in Long Beach, Calif.
A former top 25 ranked junior in southern California, she also was a Division I college player at UC Irvine. She still plays competitively, winning numerous 5.0 and 5.5Â USTAÂ and age-group tournaments in southern California prior to her move to the Big Island.
Â
"Our teams are focused  on the process of getting better every day," she said. "The goals for the program are to build a strong foundation that consists of dedication, trust, respect and a strong work ethic. We want to create a team chemistry that brings out the best while also having fun. I'm committed to a balance of success academically and athletically that provides our student-athletes with a great overall college experience."
In addition to serving as the head coach for the UHH men's and women's teams, McDermott is also the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and is the regional chair for the PacWest awards committee.Â
Tina and her husband Sean (the UHH men's and women's assistant coach) live in Honomu.
Â
