TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its region awards last week and Flagler College's Brian Washburn was named as the region's assistant coach of the year.

This is the first time in the history of the program that an assistant coach has earned this award.
 
"Coach B is doing a great job as my assistant coach," said Jonas Piibor, the head men's tennis coach. "He bleeds Crimson and Gold. This honor is well deserved and I am very happy for him."

Washburn has served as an assistant coach for the men's program since 2013, under former head coach Thomas Hipp. He helped Flagler to its second consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance and a 19-7 overall record this year. The Saints finished the year ranked No. 7 in the country.

Flagler hosted an NCAA regional pod with Tusculum College, Wingate University, and Lander University at the end of April.

He worked with four All-Peach Belt Conference selections, including PBC Freshman of the Year Pavlos Parson.

Washburn graduated from Flagler in 1982 and played baseball for the Saints from 1978-79. When he moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1983, he fell in love with tennis and joined the Sporstman's Tennis and Enrichment Center before becoming a United States Tennis Association member. In 2011, Washburn was certified though the Professional Tennis Registry.
  
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