EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - UW-Eau Claire men's tennis head coach Tom Gillman has been selected as the women's tennis head coach and will begin his dual appointment immediately, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon announced today.

Gillman, who has coached the men's team the last nine seasons, replaces Craig Monson, who coached the women for the past six years. Prior to Monson's arrival to UW-Eau Claire in 2004, Gillman served as the women's tennis head coach from 2001 to 2003.

"It really is a great honor to get the chance to coach the Blugold Women again," Gillman said. "I have learned through personal experience what a great school UW-Eau Claire is and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Over the last six years I helped build a very special program in Red Wing, Minnesota and I have no doubt that we can head in that direction here."

Coaching the Blugold men, Gillman has guided the team to NCAA post-season appearances in each of the last two seasons. In his time with the men's team, he has posted a dual meet record of 134-69.

During the three seasons Gillman coached the women's team, he led the team to two conference titles and earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors.

He has also been very successful as a high school coach at Red Wing High School in Minnesota. In 15 years of coaching the boy's and girl's teams, he has led them to 12 Missota Conference championships and four section titles.

"Given Coach Gillman's strong coaching background and successful track record developing tennis programs along with the athletic department's goal of providing high quality professional coaches, we are indeed fortunate to have a coach of his caliber take over to continue the upward cycle of the women's tennis program under Coach Monson," Kilgallon said.

Gillman's complete bio can be found at - http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=directory&sport=wten&coach=47