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They fill a crucial role in every college program. They juggle multiple responsibilities and put in long hours behind the scenes. They arrive early to hit balls, they stay late to provide advice and they keep in contact with potential recruits.

They are assistant coaches.

Although they may not get as much attention as head coaches, they are highly valued by many.

In this edition of Meet The Assistant, we feature UC Irvine women’s assistant coach Jurence Mendoza.

Why did you get into coaching?

I got into coaching due to my deep passion for the game and a desire to stay connected to it beyond my playing days. Coaching gives me the opportunity to mentor and guide students-athletes, helping them not only improve their skills, but also grow as individuals. Also, I'm drawn to the competitive aspect of the game, and enjoy the challenge of strategizing and finding ways to outsmart opponents. But most importantly, it’s my way of giving back to the sport and showing gratitude to the people who influenced me throughout my life and tennis career.

What do you enjoy most about coaching?

My favorite part of coaching college tennis is being involved in high-stakes situations where there's a lot on the line and the pressure is intense. These moments truly test both the players and the coach, pushing everyone to perform at their best. It’s exhilarating to be part of a match where the outcome can shift at any moment, requiring quick thinking and composure under pressure. It’s in these situations that growth happens, and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the team rise to the challenge.

What is the most challenging aspect?

In my opinion, the most challenging aspect of being an assistant coach is often balancing multiple responsibilities while supporting my head coach and the team. For instance, managing player development, recruiting, administrative duties and match preparation at the same time can be a challenging task. Nonetheless, I’m extremely passionate about what I’m doing, and I see the challenges as an opportunity for me to grow and learn as a college tennis coach.

How much of your job is recruiting?

Recruiting is a significant part of my job as an assistant coach. I would need to constantly scout for talents, evaluate players' skill levels, and assess their potential fit both athletically and academically within our program. Another aspect is being able to consistently build relationships with the recruits, their families, and high school or tennis coaches, as well as staying active in recruiting events and tournaments.

What are your strategies to identify recruits?

In my opinion, there are several key strategies to identify recruits. But I think the most important ones are tournament scouting, building relationships with coaches, evaluating their academic fit and campus visits. Watching high school or national tournaments allows us to assess their skill levels and observe how they handle competitive pressure and adversity. Also, establishing strong connections with high school, club, and academy coaches can help us identify players who might not yet be on the radar but have significant potential. Another important aspect is evaluating their academic fit. Assessing academic records is critical, as we need to see student-athletes meet the college’s academic standards and balance the dual demands of schoolwork and athletics. Lastly, campus visits are a critical part of the recruiting process in college athletics because they allow both the recruit and the coaching staff to assess if the program is a good fit on multiple levels. For the recruit, visiting the campus provides a firsthand look at the facilities, training environment, academic resources, and overall culture of the university. It also offers a chance to interact with current team members, allowing them to get a sense of the team dynamic, coaching style, and day-to-day life as a student-athlete. From our perspective, a campus visit helps gauge the recruit’s interest and commitment, as well as their compatibility with the existing team and campus environment. It allows us to evaluate the athlete's personality, maturity, and how they might fit into the team culture.

Best advice you would give to recruits?

The best advice I can offer to recruits is to prioritize their fitness before arriving on campus, as the level of physicality in college tennis is significantly higher than what many may be used to. It not only helps prevent injuries, but also allows players to fully engage in their training and performance. Also, I advise recruits to not let their results from their junior careers go to their heads. It's easy to become overly focused on past achievements or rankings, but college tennis presents a whole new level of competition and challenges. Lastly, always look for the forehand!

What are your future aspirations?

My goal is to win a national championship and become a head coach.

About Ethos School

We are excited to have Ethos School as the title sponsor of the Recruiting 101 series of articles at TennisRecruiting.net.

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Ethos School is an online school committed to preparing next-level athletes with next-level learning opportunities through flexible, high-quality courses in a faith-based environment. Our online platform offers over 100+ a la carte courses for 4th-12th grade students, allowing families the freedom to pick and choose what course(s) they would like their child to take through either a fully homeschool or hybrid model. To date, Ethos boasts an AP pass rate of over 80%, with student-athletes going to universities such as the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Dartmouth, Auburn University, and more.

One of the unique aspects of Ethos School is our commitment to providing a holistic educational experience. Our students participate in a live 1-hour video session with their teacher and peers each week. These sessions offer enriching activities, opportunities to ask questions, discuss coursework, and present projects.

We are thrilled to extend an exclusive offer to TRN recruits like you. If you decide to enroll your child at Ethos School, we will waive the $95 enrollment fee. Additionally, we will provide a complimentary Academic Counseling session with one of Ethos' Academic Deans to plan out your child's educational journey to ensure they are on the right path for college and beyond.

To learn more about Ethos School, please visit EthosSchool.org - or connect with them on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, If you have any questions or would like to discuss how Ethos can meet your child's educational needs, please schedule a call here.

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].