Jennifer Hyde Hometown: Alpharetta, GA High School: Crestwood High Position: Head Coach Experience: 5th Season Alma Mater: Florida State '95

Head Coach Jennifer Hyde begins her fifth season with Florida State with a list of accomplishments that only keep rising each year. Hyde has led the Seminoles to a higher ranking each year, posted numerous student-athletes on the All-Academic Honor Roll, placed four players on the All-Time dual match winning percentage list and consistently sent athletes to compete at the NCAA Singles Championships.

With the 2008-09 season on the horizon, Hyde looks to continue her alma mater's upward track toward greatness, ultimately hoping to cement the women's tennis team as one of the best athletic programs at Florida State. Since Hyde began her coaching career at Florida State, the Seminoles have stepped up to a new and intensified level of playing for the program.

Hyde directed the Seminoles to a new high in 2008. For the first time in program history, Florida State hosted the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament. Hyde led her team to two victorious matches over in-state rival Miami and after beating the 12th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, the Seminoles reached a No. 12 ranking, the highest ranking in the women tennis program history. With the help of big wins against top ranked programs during the 2008 season, the Seminoles finished the year with an overall record of 19-7, the highest winning season since 1999 and second highest all time at Florida State. Hyde also guided her team to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament which is only the second time in program history this has fbeen accomplished. From start to end, Hyde placed her team in the top 16 of the country with seven shut-out matches throughout the year. The impressive launch to the 2008 spring season was not only the best start in program history, but also stands out as the best in ACC history. Although many believe that the hype dimmers down towards the end of a season, this was just the opposite reaction for Hyde when she coached freshman Katie Rybakova to a top 20 national ranking in which Rybakova also received a bid to participate in the NCAA Singles Championships as a freshman.

Hyde and the Seminoles made long strides in the 2006-07 season. In addition to the NCAA berth, ITA South Region Coach of the Year and a No. 13 ranking, Hyde also coached the Seminoles to a 5th-place ACC finish, 9-1 home record and eight, top-60 victories, including the team's first win over Duke since 1983. Hyde also helped put two more Seminoles, Lauren Macfarlane and Nicola Slater, on the All-ACC team in 2007.

In just her third year with the Garnet and Gold, Hyde led FSU to its then highest ranking in program history (13th), an NCAA tournament berth, eight top-60 wins and a 16-8 season record. Such high accomplishments in such a short period of time illustrate only the beginning of what Hyde has in store for the Seminoles.

Hyde came full-circle upon her return to Tallahassee in July 2004, becoming just the fifth women's tennis head coach in Seminole history. In her first year, Hyde coached Florida State into the top 30 and capped the regular season with an NCAA Tournament appearance. Hyde continued to build the program in 2005-06, notching victories over two nationally ranked teams and coaching freshman Ania Rynarzewska to a spot on the All-ACC team.

The University of Houston recognized her unquestionable skill and presence within the sport and handed Hyde her first head coaching position in 1999. Hyde spent five increasingly successful years with the Cougars, building on her previous accomplishments with a third-place finish in the Conference USA as well as the program's most dual-match wins since 1997.

It was with the Tar Heels in 1998-99 that Hyde would begin to establish herself as one of the best young coaches in the sport. With her assistance, UNC enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history, moving from outside all the national polls to a top-25 ranking and the school's first NCAA tournament berth. Hyde also made strides off the court in the recruitment realm, identifying and signing two top-five prospects for the Tar Heels.

After graduating from FSU in 1995, Hyde began her coaching career as an assistant for the Seminoles prior to heading north to the University of Iowa in 1995. Hyde spent two years in the midwest before returning to the south with an assistant coaching stint at the University of Alabama (1997-98).

Hyde first arrived in Tallahassee as a student-athlete in 1991. The Alpharetta, Ga., native enjoyed an impressive career with the Seminoles--establishing herself as a four-year letter winner, NCAA Tournament participant (1994) and ACC flight champion in doubles alongside teammate Jenny Graf. Ironically, Hyde would captain the 1994 Seminole squad whose No. 17 ranking stands as the highest year end ranking to date. Since the arrival of Hyde in Tallahassee as the head coach, the women's team has been ranked in a better position each year. The `Noles finished 19th in 2006, 18th in 2007, so time will tell if No. 17 is on the horizon.

Off the court, Hyde has continued the team's success in the classroom. With her guidance, the team secured the Golden Torch Award, given to the Florida State athletic team with the highest GPA, for its ninth year in a row (four out of five years with Coach Hyde). In addition, numerous Seminoles have landed spots on the All-ACC Academic team, All-ACC Honor Roll and ITA Scholar Athletes list in Hyde's three years as head coach.

At the end of the day, whether it's across the net or behind the desk, Jennifer Hyde has continued to use her skills and experience both from her student-athlete days in Tallahassee and her coaching days around the country. She continues to personify the Seminoles' trademark Unconquered spirit, driving her players and her program to new highs each season. With her vision of higher expectations for the program, Hyde will definitely push the Seminoles even further this year in order to become one of the top ranked women's tennis programs in the country.