Aug. 2, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - David Vest was officially named the head women's tennis coach at Samford University on Thursday, it was announced by athletic director Bob Roller.

"I think that this is a great opportunity for me," said Vest. "It's a great chance to be a head coach again and I look forward to rejoining the OVC (Ohio Valley Conference). I'm familiar with the conference and I know what it takes to compete and to succeed in this league."

Vest, who has served as the assistant head women's coach at the University of Kentucky for the past two seasons, will replace Terri Sisk, who resigned last month to become the head coach at Tulane University.

Prior to moving to Kentucky, Vest was the head men's and women's tennis coach at Morehead State for four seasons. He was named the OVC Coach of the Year in 2002 after he led the Eagles to a school-record total in wins.

"I gained a lot of experience in my time at Kentucky and it was a challenge to compete in the toughest conference in the nation," Vest said. "It was a very high level of tennis and I think that it has helped me to take this next step."

During his time at Kentucky, Vest helped coach a women's team that was ranked as high as No. 17 in the nation last season and that produced a pair of NCAA All-Americans.

Prior to being named the head coach at Morehead State, Vest spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the program after he completed his eligibility as a member of the Eagles' tennis team.

Vest graduated from Morehead State with a degree in government and history in 1999. In high school, he was a four-time team MVP at Morgan County Central High School in West Liberty, Ky. He was named first-team all-state in both his junior and senior seasons.

"David brings such an excellent blend of the qualities and skills we were seeking when we began this search last month," Roller said. "He has years of experience and excellent recruiting contacts in the South, as that was his primary region with Kentucky. We're confident that our team will compete for championships under his direction."

Vest inherits a Samford program that won the OVC regular-season championship title in 2007. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both 2006 and 2004, and won three titles in four seasons as members of the OVC.

"I've always felt that Samford was the best school in the OVC in both academics and athletics," said Vest. "Now that Samford is moving to the Southern Conference, I think that will only continue to improve."

Last year, Samford began play in its brand-new, multi-million dollar Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion, and in 2008 the Bulldogs will move to the esteemed Southern Conference.

"Samford's new facility was also a huge factor in my decision because I know that I can definitely get some of the top student-athletes to come to the campus for a visit," Vest said. "That's the thing that will really help set Samford apart from the rest of the schools that we compete against."