McPhail Honored With National Award

From School Reports

Meridian Community College tennis coach Wanda McPhail has built one of the most prestigious junior college tennis programs in the state of Mississippi and possibly the country. McPhail was recently honored for her many years of coaching service with 2012 Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year.

McPhail received the award on Dec. 17 at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Fla. McPhail was selected by her peers to receive the Junior College Women's Coach of the Year Award.

"I am especially honored and humbled to have been selected by the other coaches for this prestigious award," said McPhail. "I am really appreciative to Wilson and the ITA for this award."

McPhail was presented the award by tennis great Roy Emerson and Michael Wallace, the Director of Sports Marketing and Brand Alliances for Wilson Sporting Goods.

Emerson is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Australia who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam tournament men's doubles titles. Emerson is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam events. His 28 major titles are an all-time record for a male player.

"It was truly a highlight of my coaching career to receive this award and to have the opportunity to meet Roy Emerson," added McPhail.

The award process begins with nominations at the regional level that consists of four regions in the United States. Regional winners are then placed on a national ballot and voted on by the awards committee.

McPhail has previously been selected the Tennis "Coach of the Year" by the Mississippi Association of Coaches in 2003 and again in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2007 she received a national coaching award, the Herschel Stephens Award, given to a coach who has been to the national tournament five times. The recipient of this award is chosen by the men coaches in attendance at the national tournament and is given for service to the association.

McPhail has led the MCC program to numerous Region 23 titles and trips to the NJCAA National Tournament. The men and women both recently captured the Region 23 Championships during the 2012 season.