North Carolina State University Athletics
James Takes Charge as Recruiting Coordinator for Men's Tennis
9/4/2017 1:06:00 PM | Men's Tennis
September 4, 2017
RALEIGH – Assistant coach Cris James will take on additional responsibility within the NC State men's tennis program as the team's recruiting coordinator, as announced by head coach Kyle Spencer.
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"Cris is one of the most detailed and thorough recruiters in the nation," Spencer said. "Centralizing our recruiting will ensure the development of our program for years to come. I am excited for Cris to be recognized with this title and to add responsibility within our program."
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It has been less than two months since James was brought on to the NC State men's tennis staff, but the assistant coach has already been hard at work on the recruiting trail with stops at the U.S. Junior Davis Cup and the USTA National Championships. James also visited international tournaments in College Park, Maryland and Montreal to watch some of the best junior tennis players in the world.
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"I'm just really trying to get to know all the players and get an idea of who we're going to be seriously interested in," said James. "We're casting a big net trying to get to know who everybody is and then going from there."
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With history as both a player and a coach, James brings years of recruiting experience to Raleigh. As former head coach at Illinois State, James recruited and coached nine players to MVC All-Conference teams and had multiple players who were nationally-ranked in singles and doubles. While at Notre Dame, he served as the primary on-court coach for a doubles pair that reached the ITA All-American and ITA National Indoor quarterfinals and the NCAA Individual Championships.
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James has shown an ability to recruit top-level players, and he brings widespread connections to athletes with great playing ability. Still, James acknowledges that successful recruiting relies on more than just looking at talent.
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"There's a whole lot that goes into it," said James. "I think the more times you've been through that, the more you understand what to look for."
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James spends time evaluating the potential of his team's prospects, making an effort to determine whether each player will be able to achieve a dynamic level of progress at NC State. He also places a big focus on professional tennis development and he is passionate about preparing his players for furthering their careers in the sport. James said that all of this, along with a deep look at work ethic and character, is important in determining who is a good fit for NC State men's tennis.
"When we're recruiting, we need to see the whole puzzle because there are so many factors that go into what allows these guys to be successful," said James. "Having been through it a lot, both Kyle and I know what that looks like, what that commitment level needs to be."
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#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
RALEIGH – Assistant coach Cris James will take on additional responsibility within the NC State men's tennis program as the team's recruiting coordinator, as announced by head coach Kyle Spencer.
Â
"Cris is one of the most detailed and thorough recruiters in the nation," Spencer said. "Centralizing our recruiting will ensure the development of our program for years to come. I am excited for Cris to be recognized with this title and to add responsibility within our program."
Â
It has been less than two months since James was brought on to the NC State men's tennis staff, but the assistant coach has already been hard at work on the recruiting trail with stops at the U.S. Junior Davis Cup and the USTA National Championships. James also visited international tournaments in College Park, Maryland and Montreal to watch some of the best junior tennis players in the world.
Â
"I'm just really trying to get to know all the players and get an idea of who we're going to be seriously interested in," said James. "We're casting a big net trying to get to know who everybody is and then going from there."
Â
With history as both a player and a coach, James brings years of recruiting experience to Raleigh. As former head coach at Illinois State, James recruited and coached nine players to MVC All-Conference teams and had multiple players who were nationally-ranked in singles and doubles. While at Notre Dame, he served as the primary on-court coach for a doubles pair that reached the ITA All-American and ITA National Indoor quarterfinals and the NCAA Individual Championships.
Â
James has shown an ability to recruit top-level players, and he brings widespread connections to athletes with great playing ability. Still, James acknowledges that successful recruiting relies on more than just looking at talent.
Â
"There's a whole lot that goes into it," said James. "I think the more times you've been through that, the more you understand what to look for."
Â
James spends time evaluating the potential of his team's prospects, making an effort to determine whether each player will be able to achieve a dynamic level of progress at NC State. He also places a big focus on professional tennis development and he is passionate about preparing his players for furthering their careers in the sport. James said that all of this, along with a deep look at work ethic and character, is important in determining who is a good fit for NC State men's tennis.
"When we're recruiting, we need to see the whole puzzle because there are so many factors that go into what allows these guys to be successful," said James. "Having been through it a lot, both Kyle and I know what that looks like, what that commitment level needs to be."
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#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
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