CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Director of Tennis Steve Moore has announced the addition of Olga Bazhanova as the Associate Head Coach for Islanders Tennis.

Bazhanova joins the Islanders after spending the past three seasons as the head coach at Northwestern State, overseeing one of the most successful programs in the Southland Conference. As a head coach, she took the Demons to a Southland Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. In 2016, she led her team back to the Southland Conference finals for a second straight season.
 
"Coach Bazhanova is a huge addition to the Islanders tennis program," said Moore. "She was widely considered one of the best up and coming coaches in the nation. She was a head coach who led her team to the NCAA Championships and the Southland Conference finals two of her three years.
 
Most importantly, her philosophy on coaching is a perfect fit for the Islanders – She is all about character, team unity and hard work," continued Moore. "I'm very excited to welcome Coach Bazhanova to the Islanders Tennis family and see the impact she will have on the program."
 
Bazhanova's teams also excelled in the classroom posting a 3.70 Team GPA this past year, the highest in the Southland Conference. Northwestern State was named an ITA All-Academic Team three-straight years under Bazhanova.
 
Bazhanova has been to the NCAA Championships as a head coach, assistant coach and player. She played and coached under Coach Patrick Dubois, one of the winningest coaches in Southland Conference history.
 
During her time with the Demons, which dates to 2013 as an assistant coach, Bazhanova helped lead Northwestern State to a pair of Southland Conference Tournament Championships and another two runner-up finishes. Bazhanova was also heavily involved in fundraising for the Northwestern State tennis program.
 
A former player at Northwestern State, Bazhanova has been a part of five Southland titles for the Demons. During her playing days, Bazhanova played No. 1 singles and doubles for three-straight seasons at Northwestern State and led one of the best teams in Southland history climbing to No. 62 in the national rankings. Bazhanova also served as team captain for the Demons.
 
A two-time All-Southland honoree, she led the 2010 NSU squad to a Southland title and a nation-best 21-2 record. Bazhanova was also a two-time All-Southland Academic and two-time All-Southland doubles selection.
 
In 2010, Bazhanova won the clinching match at No. 1 singles against UT Arlington to send Northwestern State to the NCAA Championships as the Southland Conference Tournament winner. That same year, Bazhanova clinched one of the biggest victories for any Southland team in conference history, winning at No. 1 singles as Northwestern State toppled nationally-ranked, SEC-foe Mississippi State.
 
"Olga was one of the most respected players in the history of our conference and led one of the most respected programs in the league," said Moore.
 
A native of Nikolaev, Ukraine, Bazhanova holds bachelor's and master's degrees with honors from Northwestern State. She will join associate head coach Aurelien Tave and Director of Tennis Steve Moore in leading the Islanders.
 
"I am so excited about the level, character and synergy of this staff. I feel that this staff can compete with any staff in the country and provide the Islanders' student-athletes with top-notch coaching and a first-class experience. The character of these coaches and their ability to mentor our players will be a very fulfilling journey. "