Former Kentucky All-American and current UK women?s tennis assistant Carlos Drada has been named the new head coach of the defending women?s Southeastern Conference Championship Wildcats, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced Friday.
?Carlos is an outstanding young coach and we?re happy to be able to announce one of our former student-athletes as head coach,? Mitch Barnhart said. ?Carlos has been around this team for the past three seasons and has helped them rise to not only the top of the SEC, but helped put UK on the map as one of the premier programs in the country. I?m confident this level of excellence will continue under his guidance.
?Throughout his life, Carlos has exuded an incredible work ethic, which has allowed him to succeed in everything that he has attempted,? Barnhart continued. ?I?m confident he will bring that intensity to our program.?
Drada, who was named the 2005 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year in May, replaces Mark Guilbeau, who claimed national head coach honors this year after the pair guided UK to the NCAA quarterfinals and the 2005 SEC Crown. Guilbeau recently accepted the head coaching job at Virginia.
“First off I’d like to thank God for the opportunity to be the head coach at the University of Kentucky,? Drada said. ?It’s been an amazing experience throughout the interview process. I’m really thankful to have the support of Mitch and (President) Dr. (Lee) Todd.
?I also would like to thank the team,? Drada continued. ?The women have been very supportive. It’s been a really humbling experience to have the support of everyone. The whole community of Lexington has been great as I have gone through this process.?
?My goal is to lead this team to a higher level and continue Mark’s (Guilbeau) legacy,? Drada commented. ?Mark did a great job here. I want this team to have a lot of balance and to be an efficient team. We have a lot of special women here and they will be the foundation of this team. I can’t wait to go to work.?
Prior to spending the last three seasons as an assistant with the women?s team, Drada compiled a highly successful career as a men’s tennis player at UK. His career culminated with a trip to the NCAA Singles Championship where he finished as runner-up in 2000.
A native of Cali, Colombia, Drada, 30, made Lexington his permanent home in 2000 after graduating with a degree in finance/marketing. He then accepted a job with Merrill-Lynch as a financial consultant, where he worked for a year. Drada then made the decision to return to the sport he loved and began his coaching career.
