Alison Silverio tabbed head women’s tennis coach

EUGENE, Ore. -- Alison Silverio has been named head women's tennis coach at the University of Oregon, Director of Athletics Rob Mullens announced Wednesday. A national champion and NCAA tournament MVP as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech, Silverio arrives in Eugene after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach at her Alma Mater.

“We are excited to add Alison to our coaching staff," Mullens said. "She was a championship student-athlete and one of the top assistant coaches in the country at an outstanding institution.  Alison has a strong vision for our women’s tennis program that centers on the student-athlete experience.”

Silverio becomes the 10th head coach in the program's history, taking over for Paul Reber, who stepped down in April after compiling a 77-101 mark over eight seasons at the helm.

"Oregon has long been known for its outstanding educational institution and for its exceptional athletic department," Silverio said. "My passion is to build champions, not only on the tennis court and in the classroom, but also in developing positive school-community relationships. And I am grateful to be a part of a department that strives for that same standard of excellence. I am motivated for the hard work, toughness, and discipline ahead for myself and for the team."

Following a stellar playing career that culminated in captaining the Yellow Jackets to the 2007 NCAA National Championship and earning tournament MVP accolades, Silverio has experienced continued success in the coaching ranks, starting with a two-year stint at North Carolina State, where she helped the Wolfpack to a pair of team NCAA appearances in 2008 and 2010, and assisted with bringing in the first top 25 recruiting class in program history (2010).

At Georgia Tech, she helped assemble the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in 2012, and followed that up with the No. 6 class in 2013. Silverio tutored the top-ranked doubles team in the nation last spring as well as the ITA National Indoor doubles champions and ITA Regional doubles champions in 2013. The Yellow Jackets made NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2013.

"Alison did an amazing job helping to build our women's tennis program," said Georgia Tech head coach Rodney Harmon. "She did great things as a player, helping to lead Georgia Tech to the NCAA title in 2007. As an assistant coach, she helped bring in top 10 recruiting classes and develop all the players on the team. She will build a very successful program at the University of Oregon."

Also during Silverio's coaching tenure in Atlanta, the women's tennis team achieved the highest GPA of any athletic program in school history with a 3.71 mark in 2012.

“On behalf of the search committee, we are thrilled to welcome Alison to the Oregon Athletics family,” said Eric Roedl, executive senior associate athletic director.  “Alison has excelled as both a college player and coach, and we look forward to supporting her exciting vision for the future of Oregon women’s tennis.”

A decorated student-athlete, Silverio earned the ITA’s Arthur Ashe Leadership Award and Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship during her senior season. She was a member of three straight ACC championship squads from 2005 to 2007 and was named the conference’s tournament MVP in 2005.

"I am profoundly appreciative for my opportunity at Oregon, and I would especially like to thank Rob Mullens, Eric Roedl, and the search committee for their leadership and professionalism throughout this entire selection process,” Silverio said. “I am truly honored and blessed to be a member of the Duck family!"