Nick Dargene Position: Asst. Coach Experience: 2nd yr College Degree: Iowa '03

Nick Dargene enters his second season with the Cowgirl coaching staff after spending the previous three years as a volunteer assistant coach and an administrative intern at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa). His duties included assisting with practice sessions, on the court training of both singles and doubles teams, providing on the court coaching during competition and travel with the team, creating and maintaining data bases for prospective players, along with ensuring compliance with recruitment regulations.

During that time, he was also the head tennis professional and program coordinator at the University Athletic Club (June 2004-June 2006), while providing tennis lessons for the University of Iowa's Recreation Services Department (June 2002-June 2006). His responsibilities included all aspects of tennis management at the club which entailed private lessons, junior programs, adult clinics and leagues.

Dargene began his collegiate career as a student-athlete at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. He compiled winning records at the number two and three singles positions and the number one and two doubles spots. He was also honored as the NEC Athlete of the Week and received the Most Improved Athlete Award given by his team during his sophomore season.

An avid tennis player, he started taking lessons at the age of five and began playing in junior tournaments when he was 12. Throughout his juniors career, he was a highly-ranked USTA player in the Northern Illinois District, including being ranked number one in the USTA boys 18 and under in 1998. In high school, Dargene was a three-time state qualifier earning all-conference honors twice and all-state once. During that time, he was named the team MVP as a junior and senior, while being named a team captain.

Dargene earned a bachelor's of business administration in marketing with a minor in political science from the University of Iowa in 2003. He completed his master's in sports in health studies from there as well in December of 2006.