RENO - One Carson High grad wants to make history at the University of Nevada in his second season as the head coach of the men's tennis program.
"This program has never been in the top 75 in the country let alone top 50 or top 25," Chad Stoloff said, a 1998 Carson grad, said. "It just has potential written all over it. I see the opportunities and potential this program has and that's what I'm trying to push on, making that potential a reality. This can be a premier program in the country."
Stoloff, who won a zone tennis title and took second in state his senior season for the Senators, will lead the Wolf Pack in this weekend's Western Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in Boise Idaho. No. 4 Nevada will take on No. 5 New Mexico State in today's quarterfinal round.
The 2002 Nevada grad has already led the Wolf Pack in creating history in a program that's been around more than 70 years.
Nevada knocked off Oregon and Mississippi State this season for the school's first ever wins over a Pac-10 school and an SEC school.
"We've had our ups and downs like any team, but we've accomplished a lot," Stoloff said.
Raised in Nevada, Stoloff hopes he can muster up some magic and help guide the team to its first WAC tournament title. Nevada, though, has never won a match in the tournament or advanced past the quarterfinals.
"We've never gotten past the first round in the tournament," Stoloff said. "It's another opportunity to go out there and prove what we're capable of doing."
Stoloff wants to change that, but it won't be easy for the former Nevada player. Nevada lost to NMSU, 6-1, earlier in the season in Las Cruces.
"We need to be more aggressive, more consistent and maintain our emotional composure," Stoloff said about facing NMSU.
If the Wolf Pack gets past the Aggies, then Stoloff's club will face the top-seeded Boise State Broncos.
"It's a great chance to knock them (Boise State) off at home. There's no one in the country that's unbeatable," Stoloff said. "They're just a great team and they play the best in the country."
Stoloff's road to becoming Nevada's coach required a trip to San Diego State as a volunteer coach for one year followed by a two-year stint at Hawai'i.
Stoloff helped the Aztecs defeat No. 15 Pepperdine during the 2002-2003 season, win the Mountain West Conference tournament and reach the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament.