COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Timing is everything. In a move that was basically expected, Bart Scott had had the interim tag removed from his title, and is now officially the 17th head coach in the history of the UNM program. In a totally separate, but not altogether surprising announcement, Scott was named the Mountain West Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year by league officials after a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.
“I’m honored to have been voted Coach of the Year by my peers,” head coach Bart Scott said. “We have such an amazing group of coaches in our league and so many of them deserved this honor as well.”
It’s the second consecutive year that the head coach for Lobo men’s tennis has been so honored by the conference, as Alan Dils was named Coach of the Year in 2014. It’s the sixth time that a UNM men’s tennis coach has won the award. Dils won it in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2014 before retiring from coaching and moving into a fundraising role this year.
“I’d like to share this award with Ben Dunbar, my assistant, who has done such a great job this year mentoring and coaching this group,” Scott added. “I’d also like to share this with Alan Dils. He is a great coach, a better person, and I’m so thankful to have played for him and worked with him. Last, I have to share this with our team. Without the success of the team, no individual awards are possible. I hope the team can share and enjoy this award as well.”
Regarding the removal of the interim tag, Tim Cass, Chief Operations Officer and sport coordinator for men’s tennis said, “Our intention all along was the have Bart be the permanent head coach, and I believe the future is extremely bright for our program. Bart has done a wonderful job with this team and like the direction our program is heading.”
Scott, who was the assistant coach from 2008-2012 and the associate head coach from 2012-14, led the Lobos to their first regular season title since the 2008 season. UNM received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, as the squad travels to Texas A&M to face Oklahoma State on Friday. It’s UNM’s 12th appearance overall and first since 2009.
Along with Scott, the league also named the Mountain West Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, which went to Wyoming’s Dean Clower.
This year’s team under Scott is 20-10, the ninth 20-win season in school history and second straight. Scott played collegiately at UNM from 1999-2003, and also has served as the associate head coach for the University of Oregon from 2006-08.