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 | Hometown:
Newport Beach, Calif.
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| Position:
Assistant Coach
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| Experience:
4th year at UM
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| Alma Mater:
University of Oregon (1999)
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With a deep understanding of the game; a commitment to excellence; and a deep desire to produce quality student-athletes on and off the court, this will be the second year for Jeff Thomsen as part of the University of Miami women's tennis program in the form of assistant coach. His duties at UM include, but are not limited to, organizing practices, assisting with player development and recruiting.
In his first season at Miami, Thomsen helped to coach an All-America performer in Laura Vallverdu (a two-time All-American for the Hurricanes). He was also part of helping the Hurricanes enjoy a trip to their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament while riding into the Round of 16. The team enjoyed a stellar 17-6 overall record in 2007-08 while Vallverdu also captured All-ACC honors as a sophomore.
Along with head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews, Thomsen was involved in recruiting a strong 2008-09 freshman class that is part of his first recruiting class at Miami. His first assistance in recruiting at UM includes freshmen Lauren Greco, Gabriela Mejia and Alessa Waibel--all of whom are expected to contribute greatly for the Hurricanes in coming years.
As a native of Newport Beach, Calif., Thomsen has brought passion for the game of tennis to the east coast while keeping his west coast ties well intact for scouting and recruiting purposes. He arrived at the University of Miami just under two years ago at the end of the 2007 spring campaign. He came to Coral Gables from Orange Coast College where he served as head coach of the men's tennis program in Costa Mesa, Calif. In just one season at the helm of the OCC program, Thomsen helped to turn around the Pirates program from the prior year. In 2005-06, the Pirates of OCC had a losing record, but under the guise of Thomsen, they were able to establish themselves as a state playoff contender and finish among the top eight in the final rankings.
"One thing that I've always preached throughout my coaching career has been one essential philosophy," comments Thomsen. "I believe each girl has her own playing style, and as coaches we have to develop them not only as a player, but as a human being as well," comments Thomsen.
Prior to his stint at OCC, Thomsen spent time on the high school ranks, serving as head boys' varsity coach and head girls' junior varsity coach at Newport Harbor High School in his hometown of Newport Beach, Calif. In a short matter of time, Thomsen quickly established the Sailors program as a legitimate tennis force.
In his time as head coach, Thomsen led the Sailors boys' varsity team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section playoffs four out of five years. In 2004, the team finished fifth out of 16 participating teams at the All-American High School Tournament in Southern California. He also ran a successful women's program, guiding the Sailors to three undefeated seasons from 2002-2005.
Thomsen also co-founded the Latin American Sports Camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina in February of 2000, and served as the camp's director in its first year of operation. He also has six years of experience as a private instructor in California where he trained and developed both professional players and nationally-ranked juniors.
After reaching the No. 1 ranking in the state at Golden West Junior College in Huntington Beach, Calif., Thomsen was offered a scholarship to the attend and play tennis at the University of Oregon in Eugene. At Oregon, Thomsen lettered two seasons for the Ducks before graduation in 1999 with a degree in Sociology.
"I am extremely excited for the future at the University of Miami," states Thomsen. "The core group of girls that we have brought in along with our outstanding sophomore and juniors, Paige [Yaroshuk-Tews] and I, feel as if this team can do some great things as long as we stay focused and continue to get better each day."
Upon graduation, Thomsen played on a satellite tour in South America before moving in coaching in 2001.
