STARKVILLE — Mississippi State women’s tennis head coach Chris Hooshyar didn’t take long to add to his coaching staff.
Hooshyar, who was hired June 12, announced Thursday that Wisconsin assistant coach Taylor Russo will be joining the Bulldogs’ staff.
“I’m so excited to have ‘T’ join me in Starkville,” Hooshyar said in Thursday’s press release. “I think she’s a great fit for the girls and the program. She’s loyal, hard-working and driven. I think she’s the full package to help develop our student-athletes and make the program better. … I wouldn’t want anybody else.”
The move to Starkville marks a reunion for Russo and Hooshyar. Russo played at Auburn during Hooshyar’s tenure, finishing in the top five all-time in total wins with 175. She currently sits in the top 10 in Auburn history in both women’s singles and doubles victories.
“It’s really cool to be able to go through all the phases of the student-athlete experience with him,” Russo said in Thursday’s press release. “From being recruited and playing for him to now be working with him is special. … I’ve almost grown up with him and he’s been with me for the last 10 years.”
This past season was her first season as a coach, joining Wisconsin in July 2022 ahead of the season.
She was part of a Badgers team that finished 21-7, ranked inside the top-15 nationally, and won its first NCAA tournament team match in more than two decades.
Two Wisconsin players received All-Big Ten honors and the Badgers had a representative in the NCAA singles championship for the first time since 2016.
“He’s the only person I’d want to work with for this opportunity,” Russo said. “I’m just really excited to be by his side and it’s really cool that we get to do this together. … I’m really excited to work with him and be at Mississippi State and back in the SEC.”
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