CMS head men's tennis coach Paul Settles has won the United States Tennis Association (USTA) / Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) 2011 Campus and Community Outreach Award for the Southern California section.
Settles is one of two award winners in the section, and among 14 nationwide. Settles was also the recipient of the USTA/ITA Community Service Award and Campus Recreation Award in 2006.
The USTA/ITA National Campus & Community Outreach Awards are presented each year to college coaches who provide leadership in increasing tennis participation throughout their communities, both on and off campus.
Under Settles' leadership, CMS has created a variety of community-based tennis programs, primarily focused on kids and students. A number of the activities have benefited two charities Pomona Hope and Special Olympics. CMS hosted two "Campus Kids' Days": one at the NCAA Championships in May 2011 for over 125 local elementary school children, and one during October's USTA/ITA Regional Championships for 10 and under novice players.
The CMS team also held a "10 and Under Play Day" last June, where children from the community were invited to learn how to play tennis with age-appropriate equipment.
"All of our community activities began because we thought that tennis should be much more than just a varsity sport here," Settles said. "By building ties to the community, we've expanded our fan base and exposed others to the good things that CMC is doing locally."
CMS student-athletes coach two community-based Junior Team Tennis teams playing in the 10 and under, and 14 and under divisions in the San Gabriel Valley. CMS was also the first college to host a "Campus Showdown" event in 2008, open to high school, college, and open players from surrounding communities. CMS has since hosted Campus Showdowns each year. CMS also has a thriving club and recreational team that meets three times a week and hosted the 2011 Southern California Tennis On Campus Championships.
Settles praises the CMS student athletes involved in the community programs, saying they are an integral part of the programs.
"It feels a little strange that my name gets attached to the award when so many others have contributed to the success of these programs," said Settles. "None of this could have happened without the support of our athletic director Mike Sutton, fellow coaches and student-athletes here at CMS."