Saia, Kilgo Earn ITA Central Region Coach of the Year Honors

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head tennis coach Boomer Saia has been recognized as Wilson ITA Coach of the Year for the Central Region, while Kenna Kilgo has earned Central Region ITA Assistant Coach of the Year accolades.

Saia, who in May was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, continued the turnaround of the Cyclone tennis program this year by leading the Cyclones to a 14-8 overall record and the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. Subsequently, Iowa State won its first NCAA Tournament match with an upset of No. 24 South Carolina in the first round.

The Cyclones finished 4-4 in Big 12 Conference play, setting a school record for conference wins in a season, and ISU earned its first Big 12 Tournament win by beating Texas Tech.

Iowa State earned five wins against nationally-ranked opponents in 2021, the first five victories over top-50 foes in school history.

As a team, ISU was ranked the final 10 weeks of the regular season, peaking at No. 31 before being ranked No. 34 in the final poll of the season.

Saia, who just finished his third season, transformed the program with the assistance of Kilgo, who after the season was elevated to associate head coach.

Saia and Kilgo have teamed up to lead Iowa State to a 29-25 record in three seasons, including a winning record in each of the last two seasons. Their winning percentage is the best in school history for a staff that has spent at least three seasons at the school.

In the last three years, ISU has defeated Big 12 foes Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU for the first time in school history.

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