Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton has announced the full-time appointment of Caitlin Crowley as head women’s tennis coach. Crowley, a native of Burnt Hills, N.Y., had been serving as the acting head coach since January.
“I am exceptionally grateful to Jim Knowlton and the entire search committee for affording me this incredible opportunity,” said Crowley, who has been with Rensselaer since becoming an assistant coach in the fall of 2012. “I look forward to continuing to lead our women’s tennis program in a positive direction as we pursue a Liberty League Championship. I am excited to work with a group of such motivated and talented young women who are passionate about their success in the classroom and on the tennis court.”
“I am excited to have Caitlin join the team,” said Knowlton. “She has done a superb job as an assistant and as the interim head coach over the last eight months and her passion is contagious. She is dedicated to the educational experience of our student-athletes and will continue to make a difference for years to come!”
Caitlin Crawley will lead the women’s tennis team this season.
Crowley led the Engineers to a 5-5 record and regional ranking last spring as the acting head coach. One of the losses was to Division I Radford.
As a student-athlete, she spent the 2006-07 season at Stony Brook University, where she earned Society of Distinguished Scholar Athletes recognition and a Division of Campus Residences Academic Achievement Award.
She then transferred to the University at Albany, where she served as captain and earned numerous honors, including America East Tennis Player of the Week once. She also was on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, was an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic honoree, was presented the President’s Award for Leadership in Athletics, was a nominee for the NCAA National Leadership Conference, and served on the executive board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Crowley graduated from UAlbany in 2010 with a degree in psychology. A Dean’s List student each semester, she was the undergraduate commencement speaker. She earned a master’s in educational administration and policy studies in 2012 and is currently working toward a doctorate in philosophy in the same curriculum.
She has been the associate tennis professional at Tri-City Fitness in Latham since 2010 and also has experience as a counselor at various camps, including Stony Brook and Penn State University. Crowley has also worked in the UAlbany athletics department as a graduate assistant, providing academic support for the intercollegiate athletes.