MOBILE, Ala. — Xavier University of Louisiana's Alan Green and Antoine Richard were double-winners Monday when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association presented its 2016-17 awards during a banquet for teams competing in the NAIA National Championships.Green, in his 14th season at XULA, was named men's Region IV (South) and National Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Richard, a freshman from Laval, Quebec, received men's Region IV and National Rookie of the Year.
Also honored was XULA's Kevin Chaouat, the men's Region IV Assistant Coach of the Year.
Green's Gold Rush have been No. 2 in every coaches poll this season despite losing two All-Americans from last year's national runner-up team. This is Green's third ITA national coaching honor; he won the women's award in 2013. This is the fourth time in six years that Green won men's Region IV Coach of the Year.
Richard, the NAIA's highest-ranked freshman this season in singles (fourth) and doubles (sixth with Moses Micheal), picked up his second award in three days. He was named first-team All-Louisiana Saturday.
Chaouat, from Sarcelles, France, joined the coaching staff as a student assistant after a 3-year XULA playing career that he capped with an ITA All-America award a year ago. It's the second straight year that the Gold Rush won this regional coaching honor — Loic Didavi did it in 2016.
Receiving NAIA Champions of Character awards were Sha'Nel Bruins of the Gold Nuggets and Karan Salwan of the Gold Rush. Bruins was cited for the second consecutive year.
The NAIA's national tournament will open Tuesday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center. Both XULA teams have first-round byes and will play in the round of 16 Wednesday. The Gold Rush will meet Reinhardt or SCAD Savannah at 9 a.m., and the Gold Nuggets will face Indiana Wesleyan or Asbury at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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