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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Joanna Furdyna-HS

Joanna Furdyna

Former Miner tennis standout Joanna Furdyna returned to her alma mater as the assistant coach for the program, UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez announced June 18, 2019. She was elevated to an associate head coach on July 7, 2022.
 
Furdyna combined for 40+ career victories during her playing career (2001-05) with the Orange and Blue before going on to serve as the assistant head tennis professional at Coronado County and Golf Club (2007-19).

UTEP has registered 30 wins with her aiding head coach Ivan Fernandez, including compiling seven during the 2024 dual season. One of those victories was a 4-0 outcome against Sam Houston on April 18, 2024, securing UTEP's first win at the CUSA Championships since 2009. Another notable win on the season included outclassing I-10 rival NM State, 4-3, on "Senior Day" on April 14. 

The Orange and Blue registered eight victories in 2022, their most in six years. The Miners had some special moments in 2023, including knocking off UAB on the road, 4-3, on March 19 for their first league triumph in hostile territory since 2016. Carlotta Mencaglia became the first player in seven years to secure a CUSA Athlete of the Week award. 

She helped the Miners end the Covid-affected 2021 regular season with a winning percentage of at least .500 for the first time since 2015-16. Furthermore, for the first time since at least 1990-91 UTEP closed out the regular season with three straight wins. Prior records are incomplete.

In her first season, UTEP compiled four wins during the 2020 dual season before it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
As a player for the Miners she burst onto the scene as a freshman (2001-02), shouldering the load by playing at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles. She finished with a record of 13-11 in singles, including 11-8 at the No. 2 position. The native of Poland was limited by injuries as a sophomore (2002-03), but still managed to help pick up one of two points against SMU in the 2003 WAC Championships. The Miners compiled 37 dual-match victories over her four years, including a stellar mark of 13-7 in 2001-02.
 
Furdyna was also active off the court in her time with the Orange and Blue. She was involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from 2001-05, culminating with serving as the committee's president in 2005. Additionally, she was a part of the NCAA Leadership Conference (2004) and was UTEP's student-athlete representative for the WAC.
 
Furdyna continued to be highly involved with the tennis scene in El Paso following her playing career through her efforts as the assistant head tennis professional with Coronado County and Golf Club. She coached junior players and recreation players of all ages and skill levels, in addition to designing practice plans for small and large groups. Furthermore Furdyna created, designed and conducted individual lessons that targeted specific technical needs for players.
 
She also has captained and coached USTA teams that successfully qualified for sectional and national championships. Her efforts helped her team win the USTA League Mixed 18 & Over National Championships at The Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson in November 2016.
 
Furdyna graduated from UTEP with a B.A. in public relations/corporate communications in December 2005. She is married to former Miner men's tennis player Vedran Vidovic. They have two children.