Hattiesburg, MS- William Carey University has announced the addition of men and women's tennis to its intercollegiate athletic program for the 2009-10 academic year.

With the addition of tennis WCU will field nine sports in the coming academic year. The tennis teams will compete in the GCAC. Currently there are six men's teams and eight women's team competing in conference play.

"The University has made plans to construct six new tennis courts on campus that will be ready for play in the fall of 2009," said Carey Director of Athletics Steve Knight. " We have looked into adding sports in the past few years, and, with the additional courts on campus, it makes good sense for us to re-establish our tennis program. We are looking forward to once again having a strong tennis presence in the Hattiesburg community."

Tennis is no stranger to the Crusaders athletic program having first been played on the Carey campus in the late 60's. The program reached national prominence in the early 90's under the leadership of legendary coach Jack Jones. During Jones' tenure WCU tennis produced 10 men's tennis All-Americans and 5 women's tennis All-Americans.

Recent Carey grad Christoph Schaefer has been named head coach. Schaefer, a native of Waluf, Germany, first arrived in the states in 2004 competing in both tennis and soccer at Hinds Community College. Following one season at Hinds, Schaefer transferred to Carey on a soccer scholarship. While a member of the Crusader Soccer team Schaefer was a two-time Academic All-American and team captain. In 2007 he was instrumental in the Crusaders run to the GCAC Championship.

"I am honored and exited to coach a once very successful and nationwide recognizable WCU tennis program and my goal is to develop great student athletes at William Carey University," said Schaefer.

Schaefer's first recruiting class as tennis coach has seen the addition of 14 student athletes to the program. For the women, Schaefer has added Jillian Fletcher, Hannah Johnson, Alexander Kaluza, Louise Klasen, Kaci Marie Lancaster, Hollie Robinson, Kara Strebeck, and Erica Walker. On the men's side there are Hunter Aultman, Steven Georgian, Dominik Kardell, Anton Klochkov, Joe Otto, and Devarus Walker for the upcoming season.