Helvey named National Chair

SKILLMAN, New Jersey (July 17) – Cameron head men’s and women’s tennis coach James Helvey was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Chair for Division II men’s tennis this week. Coach Helvey has served on the ITA’s Regional Ranking committees off and on for the last fourteen years and was asked to be the chair of the Central Region two years ago. He has also held a position on the ITA’s National Committee for men’s tennis and on the Regional Committee for women’s tennis for the last two years.

The current national chair, Simon Earshaw, the head tennis coach at Armstrong Atlantic University, is rotating off of the position and highly recommended Coach Helvey, who then had to go through an intense interview process before being offered the position. The national chair is the highest position in the ITA’s hierarchy and although it will greatly increase his workload, Coach Helvey couldn’t be happier.

“I am excited about taking the position,” Coach Helvey said. “This is a position a lot of people would like to have. There is lots of work involved but it is an honor to have it. I look forward to filling the position and doing a good job.”

Originally founded in 1956, the ITA was designed as a medium for expressing the wishes of men’s Division I coaches to the NCAA. Beginning with fewer than 20 members the ITA now features over 1,500 coach members and more than 15,000 student-athlete members. More than 1,000 collegiate programs from Divisions I, II, III, the NAIA, and the NJCAA are represented.

 

As the national chair, Coach Helvey’s primary responsibility will be to coordinate and release all of the national rankings. The ITA ranks over 200 Division II men’s teams six times a year.

Coach Helvey will also be in charge of the Infractions Committee and hold a position on the NCAA Advisory Committee. The Infractions Committee deals with the NCAA on any wrongdoing, such as when an improper lineup is submitted or ethical issues arise. The Advisory Committee works with the NCAA on the rankings similar to the way the Associated Press works with the NCAA on the Division I football rankings. 

“If you are involved with the ITA and are coaching, (the national chair position) is very desirable,” Coach Helvey said. “The committee that has been in place has done a very good job as a whole and has really stayed on top of things. The rankings, rules, and everything else has been accurate so I hope to maintain the good job they’ve done.”

 

Coach Helvey’s Cameron Aggie tennis teams are coming off a very solid 2006-2007 season. The Aggie men’s team finished the season 21-7 after losing to the Wildcats of Abilene Christian University in the second round of the NCAA National Championship Tournament. The ITA had them ranked at No. 22 nationally at season’s end.

 

The Cameron women’s team finished the season 18-8 and lost in the first round of the NCAA National Championship Tournament, also to ACU. The Aggies were ranked at No. 37 in the final ITA national rankings.

Both teams are currently enjoying their summer before beginning the 2007-2008 season this fall.