May 27, 2002

Waco, Texas - One month after winning Baylor's second Big 12 men's tennis title in three years, head coach Matt Knoll has agreed to a contract extension, Athletic Director Tom Stanton announced Monday. Baylor, a private institution, did not release details of the extension.

Knoll led a young Baylor team to a 27-2 record and a No. 4 national ranking in 2002 while winning both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships. The Bears advanced to the NCAA round of 16 for the third time in the last four seasons.

"Matt has proven to be one of the top tennis coaches in the nation," Stanton said. "He has put Baylor in a position to be nationally competitive every season. We couldn't be happier with Matt."

In six seasons under Knoll, Baylor has posted a 114-44 (.722) record and won the 2000 and 2002 Big 12 championships. The Bears have participated in five-consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

"I'm excited about the future of Baylor tennis," Knoll said. "Baylor is a great university and has made a full commitment to tennis. We have all the ingredients in place to maintain success at the highest level.

"My wife, Greta, has a very fulfilling job at the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. We both feel at home in Waco and appreciate the support the community has given our program."