MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced Tuesday that Jimmy Borendame has been chosen as the next Blue Raider head men's tennis coach.

"We are excited that Jimmy Borendame will be our new men's tennis coach," Massaro said. "I first met Jimmy three years ago when we hired David McNamara and I have followed his career with interest. He was one of the first people I thought of when thinking about a replacement.

"Jimmy is a highly-organized winning tennis coach that will build upon the tremendous reputation of our program. I know the tennis community and all Blue Raider fans will welcome he and Ginny and will be very pleased with the results."

Borendame comes to Murfreesboro after serving a one-year stint as the head men's tennis coach at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa. He led the Bulldogs to a 15-9 record, which included seven wins in an eight-match stretch from late February to mid-March.

"My wife and I are extremely excited about coming to Murfreesboro. I could not be more elated about taking over as the new leader of the Blue Raider men's tennis program. There is a lot of history at Middle Tennessee and I only want to add to it."

While at Drake, he tutored Mauricio Ballivian to Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year accolades and his third-consecutive All-MVC First Team honor. Ballivian paired with freshman James McKie as the All-MVC First Team doubles tandem.

Borendame arrived at Drake after a successful five-year tenure as the assistant men's tennis coach at Virginia Tech, including the 2008-09 campaign as the program's associate head coach. The Hokies posted a 70-56 (.556) mark, including three NCAA Tournament appearances, during his stay in Blacksburg.

The 2009 Hokie squad advanced to the second round of the NCAAs after defeating UNC Wilmington, 4-2, and finished with a 15-8 record. Virginia Tech twice attained a program-best national ranking of No. 21 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls.

In the 2008, he was tabbed as the ITA's Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, just one of eight national assistant coaches to earn the accolade. He also assisted in the development of 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year Luka Somen.

In Blacksburg he spearheaded recruiting, planned team travel, managed NCAA compliance, assisted with budget management, coordinated fundraising through Advantage Hokie (tennis booster club) and oversaw the strength and conditioning program.

He also has spent one year each as an assistant coach at West Virginia (2002-03) and William & Mary (2003-04). While with the Tribe, he helped W&M to a No. 38 national ranking and victories over nationally-ranked VCU and Tennessee.

A native of Wheaton, Ill., Bordendame played collegiately at Butler with a specialty in the doubles, where he was ranked as high as No. 33. He owns the school record with 98 doubles victories. He also received All-American Academic honors from the ITA in 2002, while serving as a team co-captain. He was a four-time All-Horizon League selection and won the 2002 Team Mental Attitude Award.

He is a USPTA certified instructor and was picked to coach the 2006 and 2007 Mid-Atlantic National Junior teams which participated in the national championships in Champaign, Ill. He also has worked as an assistant tennis professional at Woodstock Country Club in Indianapolis.

Borendame received his bachelor's degree with honors in finance from Butler in 2002 and a master's degree in sport management from West Virginia in 2003. His concentration was collegiate athletic administration/sport marketing.

He is married to the former Genevieve McNeill.

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