Vernon native Michael Raymond Named Foresters' Head Tennis Coach

LAKE FOREST, IL (08/15/2011)(readMedia)-- Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats announced that Michael Raymond would be taking over as head coach of the College's women's and men's tennis programs. Raymond replaces Jason Box, who recently resigned to accept a similar position at Millsaps College.

Raymond comes to Lake Forest after serving as head women's and men's tennis coach for four years at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. He was also a compliance assistant for the NCAA Division I institution, which competes in the America East Conference. Raymond spent the previous three years as an assistant coach of both the women's and men's tennis programs at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He began his collegiate coaching career with a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, his alma mater. He also has experience as an assistant tennis professional at the Ausable Club in Keene Valley, New York, and is a certified PTR teaching professional.

As a player, Raymond earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year Honors as a senior at Western New England College. He was also honored as the WNEC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year after leading his team to the GNAC title. As one of the top players in WNEC history, he served as team captain and his career record of 86-26 ranks first on the school's all-time win list. In addition, he served as the vice chair of the National Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Raymond received a bachelor's degree in business administration (with a major in sports management) in 2002 and a master's in business administration from the same institution in 2004.

"The Athletic Department and College are committed to building championship caliber tennis programs and I am confident that Coach Raymond will be successful in helping us achieve that goal," commented Slaats. "He is a high-quality individual with a track record of improving programs. I look forward to his addition to our staff and the upcoming tennis seasons."

"I am thrilled to become a part of the Lake Forest family," began Raymond. "The programs seem primed to move to the next level and we will be working very hard to be in the running for the MWC Championships this year and for years to come."