Courtesy of Dusty Sloan, Ashland Sports Information Director
ASHLAND, Ohio -- Ashland University has stayed local in naming its new head women's tennis coach, announcing the hiring of Lexi Bolesky on Tuesday (June 21) afternoon.
Bolesky, a native of nearby Lexington, Ohio, has spent the better part of the last decade at NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina – first as a player, then as an assistant coach.
"Lexi brings an interesting resume to Ashland University," said Al King, Ashland Director of Athletics. "She's young, determined and been around the game of tennis all her life. We believe she's an excellent role model for our student-athletes.
"Lexi has enjoyed success academically and athletically as a student-athlete. She grew up in this area, and is returning home after a stellar career at Coastal Carolina."
Bolesky played for the Chanticleers from 2007-11, then became their volunteer assistant coach in the fall of 2012, then assistant coach starting in the spring of 2014. As an assistant, Bolesky helped Coastal Carolina to three consecutive seasons with at least 16 wins overall, as well as a share of the Big South regular-season title in 2015, and coached two Big South Freshmen of the Year.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Bolesky was a three-time All-Big South selection in both singles and doubles, and boasted a 74-44 career record in singles and a 74-39 career mark in doubles. She graduated Cum Laude from Coastal Carolina in the fall of 2011 with a degree in Recreation and Sport Management, earned three NCAA Academic All-American honors and was a four-year Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative.
As a prep star at Lexington High School, Bolesky won an Ohio team state championship and was the state individual runner-up in 2006. She also earned two Division I first-team (junior and senior seasons) and two D-I second-team (freshman and sophomore seasons) awards.
Bolesky takes over at Ashland for Carl Leedy, who announced his retirement in March after guiding the Eagles for 15 years and spending a half-century as a head coach overall.
"We're asking her to build on the solid foundation put in place by Carl Leedy and launch this program in several different areas," King said. "This is an exciting time for our players, fans and alumni."
Ashland will start 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at home against Wayne State.
