Defiance Appoints Gonzalo Vivas As Head Tennis Coach

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Gonzalo Vivas to direct the Yellow Jacket men's and women's tennis teams as head coach.

"I want to thank Defiance Athletic Director Rudy Yovich and the entire search committee for this opportunity here at DC," said Vivas. "The entire athletic department has been very helpful and welcoming since the moment I arrived.  I'm very eager to develop both of these programs and my goal is to help student athletes grow on and off the courts. I look forward to contribute to the growth of tennis in the Defiance community as well."

Vivas brings a vast experience in tennis which includes serving as the Head Tennis Professional with the Empowered Sports Club in Ft. Wayne, Ind. since April 2015.  While there, he provided group and private lessons as well as clinics for youth and adult players.  He had also served as a tennis professional at the Wildwood Racquet Club in Ft. Wayne (2009-12) where he provided lessons as well as help run United States Tennis Association (USTA) sponsored tournaments.

Vivas has added collegiate coaching experience to his resume having previously served as an assistant coach at Huntington University, his alma mater, in Huntington, Ind.  It marked his second stint with the Foresters after helping with the program following graduation.  During his time at Huntington, he helped guide the Foresters to the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament Championship in 2010-11 and advanced into the NAIA National Tournament for the first time.

In addition, Vivas' coaching experience also includes a two-year stay as head coach of the Indiana Tech University men's tennis program in Ft. Wayne (2012-14).  In his two seasons, the Warriors finished with a 19-21 mark, including an 11-9 record in his final season as head coach.

A 2010 graduate of Huntington, Vivas was a double major in entrepreneurial small business and business management.  He went on to earn his Master's degree in management and marketing.  As an undergraduate at Huntington, Vivas was also a member of the men's tennis team for three years where he was a three-time All-Conference selection, and in his final two years he teamed up with his brother to win the MCC Doubles Championship.

Vivas was a doubles finalist in the ITA Midwest Regional Tournament in 2007.  He also won the ITA Midwest Regional Singles Tournament in 2009 and went on to place sixth at the ITA National Tournament that same year.

After his collegiate playing days, Vivas continued to compete in adult leagues and became a two-time Ft. Wayne Doubles City Champion (2015-16) and a Ft. Wayne Singles City Finalist in 2015.  

Vivas is a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certified instructor.