DECEMBER 18, 2012

KING'S TENNIS COACH BILL EYDLER RECEIVES TWO COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS

WILKES-BARRE — King's College veteran men's tennis coach Bill Eydler has recently been honored with selection for two "Coach of the Year" awards.  Eydler is in his 34th year as head coach of the Monarch men and also serves King's as Director of Tennis Operations.

Eydler received the Edwin C. Faulkner "Coach of the Year" award from the United States Tennis Association Middle States Division.  In addition, he was presented with the USTA Eastern Pennsylvania District "Coach of the Year" award in the college division.

The Edwin K. Faulkner Award originated in 1977 and Is presented annually to both a high school and college coach who either resides or coaches in the Section or is a USTA Middle States member. Named after Edwin J. Faulkner, the legendary Swarthmore College and Davis Cup coach, and member of the Middle States Hall of Fame. This award is for a coach who demonstrates enthusiasm, a sense of true team camaraderie, and has brought success to the community.

The USTA EPD award honors success on the court as well as overall contribution to the game.

Last season Eydler led King's to a 14-10 record and the semi-finals of the Freedom Conference Tournament. In addition, he had five players earn championships in the 2011-12 Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament. Chris Cozzillio, Tim Carroll, and Chris Dimino each captured individual flight championships while Cozzillio and Carroll teamed to win a MAC doubles crown. In the process, he registered his 400th career victory with a 7-2 win over Alvernia University on April 29, 2012.

Eydler currently owns a 403-298 record at King's. For the past 34 years he has been the director of the Wilkes-Barre Department of Parks and Recreation. He has been named the Freedom Conference "Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2011 and was elected into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

"I am very honored to receive the awards from the Middle States Tennis Association, which comprises six individual USTA districts throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware," Eydler stated. "They are significant awards but  they could not happen without the efforts of a great group of student-athletes at King's who have dedicated themselves to the sport of tennis."

Eydler was presented the USTA Eastern PA District Award November 18 at Moravian College. The Faulkner Award will be presented February 24 at the Bent Creek Country Club in Lititz.