Chrissi Rawak, University of Delaware director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation services, has announced the hiring of Pablo Montana as the head coach of the men’s tennis program, effective immediately.

Montana joins the Blue Hens after spending the past 14 seasons as the women’s tennis head coach at California University of Pennsylvania, where he built one of the nation’s elite NCAA Division II programs.

"We are excited to have Pablo join the University of Delaware Athletics family," Rawak said. “He built an outstanding program at California (Pa.) that has had sustainable success – both on the court and in the classroom. We are incredibly confident and excited for him to bring that winning formula to Delaware. "

A two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national coach of the year, five-time ITA regional coach of the year and eight-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West coach of the year, Montana was the winningest coach in program history with an outstanding record of 276-83 (.769) from 2002-16. Cal U posted 12 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals seven times in eight seasons from 2007-14.

“I want to thank Chrissi Rawak and Jenn Judy for giving me this opportunity, as I am honored to be leading the men’s tennis program here at Delaware,” said Montana. “My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Blue Hens family and I love the excitement and energy that is present within this University. My vision for the program is to create a culture that is used to competing in the final days of a season. I have experienced competing in the final days as a player and as a coach, and I want my players here at Delaware to experience the same.”

Montana led the Vulcans to the PSAC championship in each of the last 10 seasons and mentored eight different ITA All-Americans in the last nine years.

In addition to the success on the court, Montana has guided the program into a premier program in the classroom. In each of the last 10 years, the Vulcans have earned ITA All-Academic honors with 39 players receiving ITA Scholar-Athlete status. Cal U has also featured a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection four times in the last five years, highlighted by Franziska Steinhardt becoming the first Academic All-American in program history.

A two-time All-American at Tennessee from 1993-96, Montana was also a three-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, earning first team honors in both singles and doubles play in 1996. Montana and doubles partner Chris Mahony were ranked No. 4 in the country at the end of his junior year, posting 23 victories. The pair rank second in Volunteers’ history with 75 career doubles wins.

Montana also has coaching experience with the United States Tennis Association and Vanderbilt University.

A native of Miami, Montana completed his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Regents (New York) in 1998 before he earned his master’s degree from Cal U in 2004.

Montana is just the fifth coach in the past 66 years of Blue Hens men’s tennis and the 14th coach overall in the 100-year-plus history of the program. He replaces Bruce Myers, who stepped down from the position in August.