Gene Carswell Position: Head Coach Season at SDSU: Fifth

Gene Carswell does not mince words when asked about what his vision is for the San Diego State men's tennis program.

"We are looking to go after national championships as individuals and my goal as a head coach is to win the team national championship," Carswell said.

After six seasons of helping lead San Diego State's men's tennis ease into the national spotlight, and a pair of regional assistant coach of the year honors, Gene Carswell begins his fifth season as the Aztecs' head coach.

Carswell had been an invaluable part of the program before taking over as head coach in 2003. He teamed with then-head coach John Nelson to lead the Aztec program to four NCAA appearances in five seasons, including three trips to the second round and an appearance in the Sweet 16.

"We have set the bar high," Carswell said. "We have established a tradition of being at the top of our conference every year. We look to not only get to the NCAA Tournament, but to win matches and advance. Our goal year in and year out is to reach our potential."

In addition, Carswell has been a catalyst in the building of All-American players like Alex Waske, Oliver Maiberger, Ryan Redondo, Markus Dickhard and Benedikt Stronk.

In his five seasons as an assistant coach from 1998-2003, the Aztec program reached unparalleled heights, posting an 80-44 (64.5 percent) record while playing one of the nation's most difficult schedules.

"In the years I have been here, we have been able to build something that is really special," Carswell said. "The support in the community has never been greater. People are excited about San Diego State tennis."

After advancing to the NCAA Tournament just one time in the program's history before his arrival, San Diego State has been a frequent visitor to the sport's center stage, advancing to the championships in five of the last seven seasons and winning five matches in the process.

San Diego State has also been a frequent recipient of Mountain West Conference titles. Under Carswell, the Aztecs won the MWC regular-season crown in 2005 and 2006 and reached the conference tournament final three times, winning it in 2005.

Thanks to much of the team's success on the court, the fourth year head coach is a back-to-back league coach of the year, earning the award in 2005 and 2006.

With so much tradition on Montezuma Mesa, Carswell is looking to build on the programs' recent success.

"I think the sky is the limit,"" Carswell said. "Here we are in beautiful San Diego. We can go after the very best players and part of that is possible because of the brand new facility. We play a fantastic schedule, a top-20 schedule every year. Our goal is to be part of the elite in college tennis."

Carswell attended Mt. Carmel High School and was a member of the Sun Devils' 1989 CIF championship tennis team. He then went on to the University of New Mexico, where he was named the 1990 Western Athletic Conference rookie of the year for the Lobos. A three-time all-WAC selection, Carswell helped lead New Mexico to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Individually, Carswell participated in the NCAA in indoor singles (1992) and doubles (1992 and 1993).

Carswell held an ATP world ranking for five consecutive years from 1992 through 1996. He is a four-time open division national champion.

Prior to joining San Diego State, Carswell coached the boys' tennis team at Poway High School in 1997 and '98, leading the Titans to the '98 CIF finals.

Carswell is married to the former Lainie Spence and has two children, Spence and Duncan. The couple resides in La Jolla.