Peter Mattera Position: Head Coach Season at SDSU: 15th

Peter Mattera has become synonymous with the success of the San Diego State women's tennis program.

More than a decade into his tenure, his list of accomplishments places him among the most successful coaches in the nation.

In 14 seasons on Montezuma Mesa, Mattera has guided the Aztecs' smooth transition from the Western Athletic Conference into the competitive Mountain West Conference, all the while keeping the program in the national spotlight.

Since taking over in 1994, Mattera has guided San Diego State to 12 winning seasons and 10 berths in the last 12 NCAA tournaments. His 217-146 record (59.8 winning percentage) is made all the more impressive by playing a schedule that is among the most difficult in the nation year in and year out.

"Being in San Diego allows us to play an unbelievable schedule and have some of the nation's top teams come here to play us," Mattera said. "The city is so attractive and our program is of such quality that it makes us a high-demand team to schedule."

Mattera, who has been coaching tennis at the Division I level for 26 years, was the assistant coach at SDSU for 12 years prior to taking over as the head coach in January of 1994.

During Mattera's tenure with the Aztecs, the women's tennis program has been one of the nation's best. Winners of 10 conference championships, SDSU has consistently been ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation.

"The tradition of national prominence and excellence in player development is one in which I am very proud to have played a part," Mattera said. "I fully intend to maintain San Diego State's position among the nation's elite programs."

The SDSU women's tennis program has produced 35 All-Americans and has received invitations to 20 NCAA tournaments. The 20 invites to the national championship rank the program among the top 11 nationally in NCAA Division I.

The Aztecs have also finished first or second in the conference 11 out of the last 16 years, including four league championships.

In 2003, Mattera earned conference coach-of-the-year honors after leading the Aztecs to a 22-6 record. The 22 victories represented the most wins in a single season since San Diego State won 26 matches in 1985. SDSU also claimed the regular season and postseason MWC championships en route to the NCAA tournament.

Under Mattera the Aztecs are not only known for their strokes, but they boast one of the more intense conditioning programs in collegiate tennis. Distance running, weight training, on-court agility drills, plyometrics and several hours every week of one-on-one drilling makes the women's team among the most well-conditioned in Division I tennis.

"We are tremendously proud of our reputation for taking people who want to work and making them as good as they can be," Mattera said.

Known for his emphasis on the complete student-athlete, Mattera's teams have had 40 academic all-Mountain West Conference selections in the last eight seasons. During his tenure in San Diego, Aztec women's tennis has produced two NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients and four Academic All-Americans.

"There is a real satisfaction in watching these young ladies come into the University and develop into such outstanding student-athletes," Mattera said. "The growth and maturity that takes place during four years of college is really enhanced by the athletic experience."

Mattera received his bachelor of arts degree in physical education at San Diego State in 1980 and master's in physical education from SDSU in 1991. In 1998, he was named the NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year.

Mattera is married to Beth Mattera. He has two stepdaughters, Kayley and Torre.