Mariana Muraca joined the Middle Tennessee women's tennis program as its assistant coach in fall 2010.

In her first season with the Blue Raiders, Muraca helped the squad to a 7-11 mark. She was instrumental in the player development of the young roster, which featured zero seniors, and two newcomers. Four of the seven players surpassed the double-digit plateau for singles victories.

Muraca, a native of Brazil, spent the majority of the time since 2003 in Iowa, first as a student-athlete at Northern Iowa and then as a volunteer coach at Iowa State. She played at Northern Iowa from 2003-07 and along the way was named a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete. She also received Scholar Athlete recognition two times from the Missouri Valley Conference.

She ranks third in Panthers' history with a .698 career singles winning percentage after posting a 65-28 ledger, while her .788 winning percentage in 2004-05 ranks sixth in school history after a 26-7 record. The 65 triumphs rank seventh in UNI history, while the 26 victories as a sophomore place her in a tie for seventh on the all-time list.

"I am excited about this opportunity," said Muraca. "Everyone on the team and staff are great to work with. I cannot wait for spring to get here and see great things happening."

Muraca worked as a student volunteer coach in 2007-08 while finishing her bachelor's degrees at UNI in exercise science and sport psychology with a minor in coaching. She then completed her master's degree in sport psychology in 2010. She was a graduate assistant for the Panthers' women's team from 2008-10 while attending graduate school.

Upon finishing her graduate course work, she took a position as the tennis pro at the Ames Racquet Club and was a volunteer coach with the Iowa State Cyclones' women's team before coming to Murfreesboro.