Alan Ferguson Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 4th Year At Furman

Assistant men's tennis coach Alan Ferguson returns for his fourth season with the Paladins after joining Coach Scarpa in the fall of 2004. During his time on staff, Furman has posted a record of 53-34 overall and 24-4 in the Southern Conference.

Last spring, Ferguson helped coach the Paladins to some big wins. The Paladins outlasted then-33rd-ranked Kentucky, 4-3, with a match-clinching win by freshman Jordan Walters. Furman showed its strength once again two weeks later when it knocked off then-45th-ranked Georgia Tech. The Paladins closed out the regular season winning 10 of their final 11 matches to earn a third-place finish in the SoCon.

In 2006, Ferguson helped coach the Paladins to a share of the league regular-season title, a SoCon Tournament crown and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

A native of North Little Rock, Ark., Ferguson spent six years as an assistant coach with the University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks. At Arkansas, he was directly involved with all aspects of the program including recruiting, travel and practice. Ferguson also organized and directed the Lady Razorback tennis camps during the summer.

Not only was Ferguson a part of the Lady Razorbacks' sixth consecutive run to the NCAA Tournament in 2001, he helped Chin Bee Khoo and Maria Pavlidou become the first-ever Lady Razorback tennis players to garner All-America honors in 1999. Ferguson was honored as Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year that same season.

Prior to his stint at Arkansas, Ferguson took over at his alma mater, South Carolina-Spartanburg, in 1988. He oversaw both the men's and women's tennis teams, who were almost immediately recognized on the national level. Ferguson's men's team ranked as high as fifth in the nation in 1992, earning him Division II South Region Coach-of-the-Year accolades. His women's team finished that same year ranked 10th, helping to earn Ferguson Peach Belt Conference Women's Coach of the Year.

Coach Scarpa considers Ferguson a valued colleague on the court during practices and matches.

"Much of our success has come with his quick decisions during match-play," said Scarpa, "Our program continues to excel due to his dedication to the current players, the professional advice he offers and his obvious love of coaching."

Ferguson is married to the former Stephanie Dacus of Greenville, South Carolina.