For Gould and Brennan, a Little Love
Men's tennis coach Dick Gould, ma '59, and recently retired women's tennis coach Frank Brennan have been named the Wilson/ITA National Coaches of the Decade by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Gould, who is starting his 35th season on the Farm, led the Cardinal to six NCAA Division I men's titles, in 1990, '92 and '95-'98. His '98 undefeated squad yielded only four points in 28 matches and is considered one of the best of all time. Brennan, who left his post in June, led the Stanford women to NCAA titles in 1990, '91, '97 and '99, in addition to three second-place showings. He guided four Cardinal squads to perfect seasons and coached 41 All-Americans, nine NCAA singles champions and three NCAA doubles champions.
On a Fast-Pitch Track for the Championship
The Stanford softball team, which last year set a single-season school record with 45 wins and earned a No. 1 seed heading into the NCAAs, opens the 2001 season ranked 15th in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. John Rittman, in his fifth year as head coach, says the team faces a tough preconference schedule. But he predicts that a strong group of returning juniors will enable the team to "go postseason, go to the College World Series and put ourselves in a position to win a championship."
Nelsen Heads the Class
Senior Ryan Nelsen has been named NSCAA/Adidas Scholar Athlete of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The political science major and midfielder from Christchurch, New Zealand, also was selected Pac-10 Player of the Year after scoring five goals and six assists for a Stanford squad that finished 18-3-1 and advanced to the national quarterfinals. Head soccer coach Bobby Clark says Nelsen, one of three co-captains, is an outstanding player who "does a tremendous job in balancing . . . his life."
For Men's Soccer Coach, a Farm Farewell
Men's soccer head coach Bobby Clark, who compiled a 71-21-12 record in five seasons at Stanford and led the Cardinal to four consecutive NCAA postseason appearances, is leaving for the head coaching job at Notre Dame. The former Scottish national team goalie, and a father of three, said in an e-mail to colleagues that he'd loved his years on the Farm. But, he added, "what I won't miss is the cost of living in the Bay Area. I'm looking forward to owning a house again, having a garden, having family visit without having to sleep on the living room floor, and having a dog."
