Jessica Giuggioli has been named ULM's head tennis coach, as announced by Director of Athletics
Scott McDonald on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The native of Italy has spent the last three-plus seasons as the head women's tennis coach at Radford University.
"We are extremely excited to have Jessica join our team here at ULM," McDonald said. "She brings a proven ability to recruit, develop and win at the Division I level. Jessica experienced success as a student-athlete and coach and I am confident that will continue here at ULM."
Giuggioli comes to ULM after spending three-plus seasons at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Giuggioli was hired as the head coach of the Highlander women's tennis team in March 2016. In her first full-season in 2016-17, she led Radford to a five-win improvement over 2015-16, posting seven wins on the season. The Highlanders continued to build from there, picking up 10 wins in 2017-18, and then posting a winning record in 2018-19, going 14-9 with a 5-4 mark in Big South Conference duals, advancing to the Big South Conference tournament finals.
In addition, Giuggioli had six athletes named to the All-Big South Conference teams, including Anastasia Belyaeva, Drousile Dzeubou, Malin Falk, Lotti Meszaros, Natalie Sayer and Meili Martin. Dzeubou is a three-time first team All-Conference singles selection, and is the first Highlander to achieve the feat. During her tenure, Radford was honored as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic team in 2017, 2018 and 2019, with 13 athletes earning ITA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Prior to arriving at Radford, Giuggioli coached at NCAA Division III member Emory & Henry for three seasons, leading the Wasps to their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament since 2009 in her first season at the helm. Giuggioli coached the 2014 ODAC women's tennis Rookie of the Year, Stella Di Michele. Di Michelle was All-Conference first team at No. 1 singles, and paired with Lauren Riner to claim All-ODAC honors at No. 1 doubles. Giuggioli coached Chiara Mossi, Sveva Mazzari and Di Michele to regional rankings.
Before going to Emory & Henry, Giuggioli was a graduate assistant women's tennis coach at East Tennessee State University from 2011-13. At ETSU, she was responsible for planning and leading team practices, individual lessons and monitoring academic success. The Buccaneers posted a 26-15 overall record and 15-2 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play over her two seasons, including a 2011 A-Sun Regular Season Championship and a pair of A-Sun tournament runner-up finishes.
Giuggioli played collegiately at both the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky. At Missouri, she achieved a No. 17 ITA Division I Central Region ranking in January 2009, and was also ranked eighth in doubles. In 2008 and 2009, she was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team, while also being named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll from 2008-10.
Giuggioli opened her collegiate career at Kentucky, where she was named All-Southeastern Conference second team during the Wildcats' Sweet 16 run in 2006. She also performed well in the classroom for the Wildcats, and was named to Kentucky's Academic Honor Roll in 2006-07.
Giuggioli also has extensive coaching experience at the club level, including in her native Italy. She spent the summer of 2009 at Torino's Indoor Club and 2010 at Sport Village Bertolla in San Mauro Torinese. Her responsibilities varied from coordinating drills to enhancing in-match techniques through strategy sessions as she worked with many different levels and ages of players. She has been a member of the Professional Tennis Registry since 2013.
Giuggioli earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Missouri in 2010, and completed a Master's degree in professional communication/public relations at East Tennessee State in 2013.
