Doane College Athletic Director Greg Heier has announced the addition of Barb Kuzma to the Tiger coaching staff. Kuzma will take over the women's tennis program after Amber Gilliam resigned in June as she will pursue other opportunities as well as prepare for her upcoming wedding.Kuzma served as the men's & women's coach at Doane in 1999 and led the women to a second place finish in the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC). She has also coached at Crete High School for 20-plus years. She recently retired from teaching at Crete H.S. after 31 years, working in the enrichment program. Kuzma will now assist the Doane chemistry out-reach program on a part-time basis.
Kuzma is a United States Tennis Association (USTA) member and continues to participate in several tournament and has played at the national tournament. She has also attended several clinics, including ones in Arizona and Florida.
"I'm excited for something new and challenging," said Kuzma. "I'm really looking forward to this opportunity and being back at Doane. A lot has changed within the conference and there are a lot of new faces to get familiar with. One of the things I hope to teach the young women will be to learn about who they are, on and off the court. Tennis, as well as all sports, can really help develop a student-athlete for beyond college."