ADRIAN, Mich.--Adrian College athletics director Mike Duffy has appointed Rick Halverson as the next men's and women's tennis coach for the Bulldogs, effective Aug. 1.

Since August 2015, Halverson served as the head tennis coach and game event coordinator at Finlandia University in Hancock. He recruited the first class and developed a schedule as the Lions will field men's and women's tennis programs for the first time this fall.

With his new post at Adrian, Halverson is no stranger to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association after serving as the women's head coach at Olivet College during the 2012-13 season. He coached Caitlin LaValley to All-MIAA Second Team honors who also was a four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association academic standout. The Comets were an ITA All-Academic Team and had six individuals honored, and he produced five academic all-conference performers.

"Rick has seen success at the high school level, as a collegiate student-athlete and a coach at the NCAA level," Duffy said. "His knowledge of the state of Michigan, the MIAA and teaching student-athletes will serve him well here at Adrian College as we look to continue elevating our men's and women's tennis programs."

"Adrian College has an outstanding tradition of athletics success," stated Halverson. "I'm very excited for the opportunity to contribute to that tradition with both tennis programs. My past coaching (experience) in the MIAA has given me a great awareness of the tough competition and what it takes for a tennis program to be successful in this conference.

"I am enthusiastic about doing everything I can to help our tennis student-athletes achieve success," he added.

A native of Marquette, Halverson was a three-time Upper Peninsula champion at Marquette Senior High School where he graduated in 2003. He then played NCAA Division II tennis at Michigan Technological University for four seasons.

Following his 2010 MTU graduation with a biology degree, he spent five seasons (2007-12) as an assistant coach with the Michigan Tech Huskies. From 2013 to 2015, he led both the men's and women's programs at NCAA Division III Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Halverson replaces Maxim Sukalo who served a two-year stint for both Adrian programs before returning to his homestate of Florida to work at a new tennis facility in Greater Orlando.

#AdrianBulldogs #GoDawgs

TRANSACTION: Adrian College--Rick Halverson named men's and women's tennis coach.

Story provided by Patrick Stewart, Adrian College