June 4, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame men’s tennis coach Bob Bayliss, who led the Irish back into the top 10 for the first time since 1993, has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for the fourth time in 14 years as head coach of the Irish. Bayliss’ 14th Notre Dame finished with a 17-7 record and a final ranking of 16th after a 13-11 record and a final ranking of 34 in 2000. He has a record of 261-121 (.683) in his 14 years at Notre Dame and a career record of 543-214 (.717) in 32 years of coaching.

Bayliss, previously named ITA regional coach of the year in 1991, 1992 and 1995, led the Irish to their 11th consecutive NCAA appearance this season where they defeated Harvard in the first round before falling to Washington in the second round. Notre Dame also won the prestigious Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala., for the first time since 1993 with wins over Tulane, Rice, Fresno State and Auburn.