Yurachek hires Houston’s Steinbock as women’s tennis coach

FAYETTEVILLE — Courtney Steinbock has been named the sixth head coach in Arkansas women’s tennis history, announced Monday by Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek.

One of the rising stars of collegiate tennis, Steinbock comes to Fayetteville from Houston, where she was head coach the last three seasons from 2015-18.

“First off, I want to thank Hunter Yurachek and Clayton Hamilton for this incredible opportunity,” Steinbock said. “I am so excited to be a part of the University of Arkansas and the Razorback family. This program is so rich in tradition and has a history of great success. Having coached in the SEC before, I am beyond thrilled to get back to such a prestigious conference and at the helm of the Razorback program.”

Steinbock recently led Houston to a 20-4 record in 2018, just the program’s seventh 20-win campaign in 41 years and coached two student-athletes to American Athletic Conference All-Conference Team honors.

The Cougars went undefeated at home for the first time since 2006 at 14-0 and were ranked as high as No. 49 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

“In her successful coaching career, Courtney has displayed the same on court passion and competitive spirit that made her an outstanding student-athlete at the University of Kansas,” Yurachek said. “She showed great fortitude in overcoming roster and facility challenges early on in her tenure at Houston and was able to quickly turn the Cougars into a nationally competitive program.

“She brings tremendous experience both as a former student-athlete and as a coach to our program which will be a huge positive for our student-athletes.”

Prior to Houston, Steinbock spent two seasons at Oklahoma State from 2013-15, helping the Cowgirls compile an impressive 49-15 record during that span.

In 2015, Oklahoma State achieved one of the best seasons in program history. With Steinbock’s help, the Cowgirls finished the season 23-6 and hosted the opening two rounds of the NCAA Championship for the first time.

Oklahoma State rose as high as No. 8, a program record, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996. Following the season, Steinbock was named ITA Central Regional Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the National Assistant Coach of the Year award.

Steinbock also helped develop Viktoriya Lushkova into a two-time All-American in singles. With Steinbock’s leadership, Lushkova rose to No. 10 in the ITA singles rankings, an Oklahoma State record.

In addition, Lushkova and teammate Kelsey Laurente were ranked as high as No. 3 in the ITA’s doubles listings, another school record.

Steinbock spent three seasons (2010-13) as an assistant at Mississippi State prior to her time at Oklahoma State.

She helped the Bulldogs win their first SEC Tournament match in nearly a decade and played a major role in building a program that later advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship in 2015.

Prior to her time in Starkville, Mississippi, Steinbock served two seasons (2008-10) as Wichita State’s associate head coach and helped the Shockers win the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships.

She earned MVC Assistant Coach of the Year honors after the season and helped the program make it back to the NCAA Championship in 2010.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Steinbock also spent three seasons (2004-06) as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater and two seasons (2006-08) as an assistant at Washington State.

During her tenure in the Pacific Northwest, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 39 in the ITA national rankings and qualified for the 2008 NCAA Championship.

A native of Lubbock, Texas, Steinbock was a four-year letterwinner with the Jayhawks from 2000-04.

She was named team MVP each of her last two seasons and earned First Team All-Big XII Conference honors as a junior.

THE STEINBOCK FILE
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
College: Kansas, 2005 (B.S., General Studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences)

Playing Experience
College: Kansas (2000-04)

Coaching Experience
2004-06: Kansas, Volunteer Assistant Coach
2006-08: Washington State, Associate Head Coach
2008-10: Wichita State, Associate Head Coach
2010-13: Mississippi State, Assistant Coach
2013-15: Oklahoma State, Assistant Coach
2015-18: Houston, Head Coach

Championships Won As A Coach
2009: MVC Regular Season Championship
2009: MVC Tournament Championship

Awards Earned As A Coach
2009: MVC Assistant Coach of the Year
2015: ITA Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year