Takes reins after three successful years at Lesley University

RINDGE, N.H. (August 28, 2012) – Franklin Pierce University Director of Athletics Bruce Kirsh announced on Tuesday that Marty Morrissey has been named the new Head Coach of both the men's and women's tennis programs, effective immediately. Morrissey brings four years of collegiate head coaching experience, all in the Division III New England Collegiate Conference, with him to the Ravens.

"We are very excited to have Marty Morrissey join our Athletics staff here at Franklin Pierce," Kirsh said. "He brings with him a tremendous amount of teaching experience in the sport of tennis. When you speak with Coach Morrissey just one time, you can tell his passion for the sport and how it should be played the right way. I look forward to watching him make both the men's and women's programs competitive in the Northeast-10 Conference."

Before coming to Rindge, Morrissey spent the previous three years as the Head Coach for both men's and women's tennis at Lesley University. Though he guided both teams to success within the NECC, he undeniably enjoyed greater highs with the men's program, leading the team to a share of the NECC title in 2011, as well as earning NECC Coach of the Year honors in 2010, his first season in Cambridge.

While skippering the Lynx, Morrissey mentored seven All-NECC selections, three All-NECC Honorable Mention picks and two NECC Academic All-Conference selections on the men's side, in addition to the 2011 NECC Rookie of the Year. He also had players capture the Conference title at fifth singles in both 2010 and 2011. In addition to finishing as co-champions in 2011, the team placed as the NECC runner-up in 2010 and reached the semifinal round of the NECC Championship in 2012.

On the women's side, Morrissey produced two All-NECC selections, three All-NECC Honorable Mention picks and one NECC Academic All-Conference selection over his three seasons at Lesley. He guided the team to an appearance in the NECC semifinal in 2011, when the team also captured the Conference's Sportsmanship Award. Morrissey coached the NECC champion at fifth singles in 2010.

"I'm very honored that Franklin Pierce would select me to lead its men's and women's tennis programs," Morrissey said. "The school offers several exciting aspects for aspiring tennis players, including tremendous indoor and outdoor facilities, competing in an outstanding Conference in the Northeast-10, the remarkable scenery with Mount Monadnock and Pearly Pond, and a quality education. I look forward to the challenge of adding to the legacy of the tennis programs at Franklin Pierce."

Prior to his three years at Lesley, Morrissey spent one year as the Head Tennis Coach at Wheelock College, which also competes in the NECC. In his lone year with the Wildcats, he produced two NECC Academic All-Conference selections.

Morrissey was also a Wildcat as an undergraduate, albeit at a different school, completing his studies at the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 2008. He played two years of tennis for New Hampshire, primarily at second singles and first doubles, before the institution eliminated tennis as a varsity sport after his sophomore year.

Outside the world of intercollegiate tennis, Morrissey has served as a teaching pro at both the Jasper Valley Swim and Tennis Club of Amherst, N.H. and the Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club in Milford, N.H.

Morrissey inherits a pair of tennis programs at Franklin Pierce which each had their most successful seasons in recent years in 2011-12. The men's team recorded its most wins since 2003-04 and finished just two matches shy of qualifying for the Northeast-10 Championship.

The Ravens men's team is scheduled to open the 2012-13 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 11, when they host Southern New Hampshire in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 3 p.m. The women will open their season two days later, on Thursday, Sept. 13, when they travel to SNHU for a Northeast-10 contest at 4 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).