The Bulldogs went 12-8 in Jeff Maren's first season as head coach, going 3-1 in conference on their way to a share of the Big South Conference Regular Season Championship. It was the third regular season championship in the last four years for the Bulldogs. Asheville went a perfect 5-0 at home, with Angelina Joy Hug Big South Conference Player of the Week honors on Mar. 18, 2026. Sofia Segui earned Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 11, before Maria Sol Alvarez Brandon also earned the honor on Mar. 18. On Mar. 18 combined with the men's team, the Bulldogs executed a clean sweep of weekly awards for the first time since Gardner-Webb back on Mar. 10, 2022. At the end of the season, Hug was named to the All-Conference First Team for singles while she and Segui earned First Team All-Conference honors in doubles play. Hug was also named to the All-Academic Team. The team also had three College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections in Valeria Centeno, Hug and Avery Sager. Centeno, Hug, Sager, Audrey Gregg, Segui and Brandon each earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete honors while the team was named an ITA All-Academic Team for the 19th straight year.

Maren was announced as the new Head Women's Tennis Coach at UNC Asheville on Friday, May 16, 2025. Maren becomes the ninth head coach in program history.

Maren spent the previous 10 months as the Head Coach for New College of Florida, a new NAIA program, whose inaugural season was 2025. He has spent the last 10 months recruiting to fill 20 roster positions between the men's and women's teams.

Before helping to begin the tennis program at New College of Florida, Maren served as the head women's tennis coach at Liberty University for 12 years. During his tenure at Liberty, Maren compiled an 184-98 record, including a 42-10 record in the Big South Conference, a 26-6 record in the ASUN, and a 5-0 record in Conference USA.

While at the helm of the program, the Flames reached the semifinals or finals of the conference tournament 11 times, including two Big South Championship appearances (2016, 2018), one ASUN championship appearance (2022), and one Conference USA championship appearance (2024).

Maren coached four nationally-ranked singles players and three nationally-ranked doubles partnerships during his time at Liberty.

Before joining the Flames, Maren was the associate head coach of the women's tennis program at North Texas for six years, where he helped the program bounce back from a 2-19 record in 2007 to a pair of Sun Belt Conference Championships in 2010 and 2012.

What they're saying about Jeff Maren:

"This is a great day for UNC Asheville tennis! Jeff Maren is a terrific coach & mentor, but more importantly, he is a great human being and a tremendous role model. He has all the tools and skills to develop a championship team while doing so holistically and keeping the best interests of the student athletes at all times. This is a home run hire, and I cannot wait to see the great things that are to come for UNC Asheville tennis!"

Sujay Lama
Head Coach, Arkansas State University Women's Tennis

"I have had the opportunity to coach alongside Jeff in the Atlantic Region for many years. Jeff always leads and coaches with professionalism and care for his student-athletes, and I know he is going to do great things at UNC Asheville!"

Sara O'Leary
Head Coach, University of Virginia Women's Tennis

"UNC Asheville has hired a knowledgeable, veteran tennis coach! More importantly, they hired a coach who strives to do things the 'right way,' valuing education as much or more than victory. Jeff Maren is the perfect person to build on Lise Gregory's legacy and lead this program forward."

Ty Thompson
Associate Head Coach, University of North Carolina Women's Tennis

"Jeff Maren is a great hire for UNC Asheville! He brings energy and integrity to his team, and will give the student athletes a great experience! His experience and knowledge will be a great asset to the program!"

Chris Young
Head Coach, Oklahoma State University Women's Tennis

"Jeff is a great coach who takes pride in developing players to their potential and fosters overall character growth with his team. With his passion and knowledge for college tennis, I know he will continue the tradition of hard work and success at UNC Asheville."

Tayo Bailey-Duvall
Head Coach, Middle Tennessee University Women's Tennis

"Jeff is an incredible coach with decades of experience in college tennis. His dedication, leadership, and relentless work ethic make him the perfect fit for this opportunity. Jeff will be a tremendous asset to the student-athletes, administration and UNC Asheville community. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that he will have."

Elizabeth Anderson
Head Coach, Elon University Women's Tennis

"UNC Asheville has made an excellent hire in Coach Maren. You are not only getting a coach who can build a national level tennis program but also one with a track record of molding and building the character of his student-athletes."

Rob Hubbard
Head Coach, Sam Houston State University Women's Tennis

Name	Title	Phone	Email Address
Jeff Maren	Head Coach	350-4556	jmaren@unca.edu
Rodney Duncan	Assistant Coach		rduncan3@unca.edu

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