Aug. 4, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Lew De Leon, a longtime member of the Las Vegas tennis community, has been named UNLV men's tennis assistant coach, Rebels' head coach Owen Hambrook announced Thursday.

De Leon, who spent last season as the team's volunteer coach, has worked as a staff professional at the Darling Tennis Center for the past four years and also served as the Youth Tennis and Diversity Coordinator for USTA Southern Nevada.

"Lew did a great job as the volunteer assistant last year and I am excited that he is joining us as assistant coach," Hambrook said. "He is one of the top young developmental coaches in the country and his energy, passion, and experience will play a big part in our future success."

De Leon, who played his first season of college tennis at Northern Arizona and was a member of the Rebels in 2005, graduated from Las Vegas' Foothill High School in 2003. He was a three-time Sunrise Zone champion and a two-time state runner-up for the Falcons.

A former top local junior player, De Leon won USTA Intermountain sectional titles in 16-and-under, 18-and-under singles and 18-and-under doubles. He was ranked as high as No. 1 regionally and 72 nationally in the 18-and-under division en route to earning the Las Vegas Review-Journal All Sports Award and the state's Pancho Gonzalez Award in 1997.