ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After a national search to find UNM’s next head women’s tennis coach, Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez has hired the person who already had an office in the building. Vicky Maes, who served as the interim head coach last season, has been named as the program’s seventh head coach, replacing Stephanie Wooten-Quijada.
Maes was hired last August to serve as the assistant coach for the Lobo women’s tennis team after originally intending to serve as a volunteer assistant. Instead, she took over as the interim head coach, leading the team to a 12-9 overall record and a 3-1 record in the Mountain Division, tying for the division title.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to continue to lead the UNM women’s tennis team. I believe in our university’s mission and look forward to growing our tennis program,” said Maes. “I would like to sincerely thank Eddie Nuñez, Ed Manzanares, and Janice Ruggiero for their strong belief and faith in me. The past year of coaching here has been a lot of fun and I cannot wait to get the next era underway.”
Maes, who quickly became ingrained in the local tennis scene, added, “I would also like to thank the local tennis community for welcoming me into the Lobo family first as a volunteer, then as an assistant, and now as a head coach. UNM truly is a special place and I am beyond thrilled to represent our great university and lead our Lobo team to new heights.”
“Vicky did a great job as our interim coach this past season,” said Associate A.D. for Sports Administration Ed Manzanares, who is the administrator for women’s tennis. “I am really excited about the future of Lobo women’s tennis under her leadership.”
Prior to coming to UNM, Maes spent 17 years as the head coach of the University of Arizona, from 2001-2018. With the Wildcats, she led the squad to eight NCAA tournament appearances over her 17 years. She also developed four NCAA All-Americans and seven all-conference performers and her players qualified for postseason competition every year. All in all, she was with the Wildcat family for 24 years, starting in 1994 as a student-athlete, then moving on as a community service coordinator for the C.A.T.S. Life Skills program and finally accepting her coaching role.
As a tennis player for the University of Arizona, Maes was the squad’s No. 1 singles and doubles player throughout her entire career. She was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year in 1996, as well as being tabbed a four-time first team All-Pac-10 selection. Maes was named to the Pac-10 All-Decade team in 1998, was the 1996 Arizona Women’s Sports Foundation College Athlete of the Year, a four-time All-American (1995-98) and the nation’s top-ranked player in 1996 and 1997. Additionally, Maes was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection and a GTE Academic All-America choice in 1996. In 1998, she was a finalist for the NCAA’s Great Eight award and won the Ruby Award, which recognizes UA’s top female student-athlete in the field of athletics, academics and personal development. For her efforts, Maes was inducted into the University of Arizona’s Hall of Fame in 2003.
Maes, who is fluent in Dutch, English and French, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in marketing and a minor in international business studies.