Pablo Montana has guided California on a meteoric rise in his five seasons as the head coach with the Vulcan's women's tennis program. Since Montana's arrival in January 2002, the Cal U. women's tennis program has reached new heights by finishing in the top 10 in the NCAA East Region five-straight years and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships four times.
The 2006-07 squad posted a 28-2 overall record, won the PSAC West title for the third-straight year, was ranked No. 1 in the NCAA East Region and advanced to the Division II Elite Eight with the first three NCAA Tournament wins in team history.
The Vulcans have compiled a 92-36 overall record (71.9%), and 16 Cal players have earned All-PSAC West recognition during Montana's first five years.
He was also chosen by his peers as the PSAC West Coach of the Year and the ITA East Regional Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007 and added ITA National Coach of the Year honors in 2007.
The Vulcans were also recognized three times (2004-06) by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) with an All-Academic Team award (team GPA above 3.20).
His players have also achieved remarkable recognition. In 2005, Sr. co-captain Linda Escobedo was selected as the ITA Northeast Region winner of the Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. In 2006, Soph. Inga Chilingaryan was named the ITA "Player To Watch" in the East Region.
In 2007, Chilingaryan repeated as the PSAC Singles champion, won the ITA East Regional doubles championship for the second-straight year, captured the ITA East Regional singles crown and was named the PSAC Championship Tournament MVP.
Originally from Miami, Fla., Montana played collegiate tennis at the University of Tennessee for four seasons, then earned his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Regents College in Albany, N.Y., in 1998. He went on to earn his masters degree from Cal U. in 2004 (with a 4.0 GPA) in Geography and Regional Planning.
During his playing days at Tennessee, Montana was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection. In doubles competition, Montana and partner Chris Mahony were ranked No. 1 in the nation during the 1996 season. They combined to win the NCAA Indoor Championship and All-American recognition in 1994 and 1996. Mahony and Montana rank second in career doubles wins at Tennessee with 75.
He played on the professional tour for two seasons, ranks among the Top 400 on the ATP tour world rankings. He also competed on the German Club tennis circuit in 1997 and 1998.
Montana began his coaching career as a USTA National Coach in 1998 where he coached and traveled the world with America’s top junior tennis players.
He entered the collegiate coaching ranks as the assistant men’s tennis coach with Vanderbilt University in 1999 helping build that program into a national powerhouse for three years. Montana was an integral part of the recruiting process that brought national-caliber players to Nashville that led the Commodores to the finals of the 2003 NCAA Division I Championship Tournament.
Montana gained valuable experience under head coach Ken Flach, who won 36 ATP doubles titles, achieved the #1 world ranking in doubles and won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics.
'We are very excited to have such a quality person and coach in our athletic department,' said Director of Athletics Dr. Thomas Pucci. 'Pablo is a young, energetic coach with considerable experience who has distinguished himself in the sport of tennis as both a player and a coach. He continues to do an outstanding job at California U. of Pa.'
Montana, wife Karen, daughter Alexis and son Silas reside in Canonsburg, Pa.
