Drexel Adds Men's and Women's Squash as Varsity Sports, Selects John White to Lead the Program
4/25/2011 3:00:34 PM | Drexel Athletics, Men's Squash, Women's Squash
Philadelphia - Drexel Athletics Director Dr. Eric Zillmer has announced the addition of men's and women's squash as varsity programs that will begin competing in the 2011-12 academic year. He has also announced that John White will lead both the men's and women's programs. White comes to Drexel after a four-year stint as the head coach at Franklin & Marshall.
White took over as Franklin & Marshall's Director of Squash and Head Men's and Women's Squash Coach in September of 2007. This past season, his men's team was ranked eighth in the nation and his women were ranked 17th. In his four seasons as the men's coach, the Diplomats have a 48-36 mark. They have won 11 or more matches in each of the last three seasons. The men were 11-7 during this past academic year. On the women's side, the Diplomats have improved their win total in each of the last three seasons under White, and finished the 2010-11 season with an 11-10 mark.
The native of Queensland, Australia and Scottish national, White is a former top-ranked player in the world. He is still ranked among the top 10 players nationally and has 12 Professional Squash Association titles. He was ranked No. 1 in the world in March of 2004. White earned his first win as a pro on the Italian Circuit in 1997, and has international victories in several high-profile events including the 2003 PSA Masters in Qatar, the 2003 Prince English Open and the Scottish National Championship. White represented Scotland in the 1999 European Championships, the World Cup, and World Team Championships. His titles in the United States include victories in The Dayton Open, The Virginia Pro Championship, The Motor City Open and Baltimore City Open.
White is also a fan favorite as one of the tour's hardest hitters. He had one of his shots clocked at a world-record 172 miles per hour.
Drexel's addition of squash as a varsity sport comes on the heels of the University announcing that it will host the 2011 U.S. Open Squash Championships, the most prestigious squash tournament in the country, on Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The tournament will showcase the best men's and women's squash players in the world with $175,000 prize money on the line. The tournament will host both the men's and women's championships concurrently for only the second time in the event's history.
“I am very excited about my new position as head coach at Drexel University. I look forward to the challenge of building a competitive varsity squash team under the guidance of the Drexel athletics department,” said John White.
“Drexel athletics is thrilled to compete in varsity squash and to host the 2011 U.S. Open,” Drexel Athletics Director Dr. Eric Zillmer said. “Philadelphia is arguably the cultural center of U.S. squash. I can't think of a better individual leading our new squash program than John White. He is a charismatic coach, a genuine person, and simply irresistible in his enthusiasm for the sport. I welcome John and his family to Drexel University and look forward to working with him to ensure that Drexel squash will be a success.”
White took over as Franklin & Marshall's Director of Squash and Head Men's and Women's Squash Coach in September of 2007. This past season, his men's team was ranked eighth in the nation and his women were ranked 17th. In his four seasons as the men's coach, the Diplomats have a 48-36 mark. They have won 11 or more matches in each of the last three seasons. The men were 11-7 during this past academic year. On the women's side, the Diplomats have improved their win total in each of the last three seasons under White, and finished the 2010-11 season with an 11-10 mark.
The native of Queensland, Australia and Scottish national, White is a former top-ranked player in the world. He is still ranked among the top 10 players nationally and has 12 Professional Squash Association titles. He was ranked No. 1 in the world in March of 2004. White earned his first win as a pro on the Italian Circuit in 1997, and has international victories in several high-profile events including the 2003 PSA Masters in Qatar, the 2003 Prince English Open and the Scottish National Championship. White represented Scotland in the 1999 European Championships, the World Cup, and World Team Championships. His titles in the United States include victories in The Dayton Open, The Virginia Pro Championship, The Motor City Open and Baltimore City Open.
White is also a fan favorite as one of the tour's hardest hitters. He had one of his shots clocked at a world-record 172 miles per hour.
Drexel's addition of squash as a varsity sport comes on the heels of the University announcing that it will host the 2011 U.S. Open Squash Championships, the most prestigious squash tournament in the country, on Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The tournament will showcase the best men's and women's squash players in the world with $175,000 prize money on the line. The tournament will host both the men's and women's championships concurrently for only the second time in the event's history.
“I am very excited about my new position as head coach at Drexel University. I look forward to the challenge of building a competitive varsity squash team under the guidance of the Drexel athletics department,” said John White.
“Drexel athletics is thrilled to compete in varsity squash and to host the 2011 U.S. Open,” Drexel Athletics Director Dr. Eric Zillmer said. “Philadelphia is arguably the cultural center of U.S. squash. I can't think of a better individual leading our new squash program than John White. He is a charismatic coach, a genuine person, and simply irresistible in his enthusiasm for the sport. I welcome John and his family to Drexel University and look forward to working with him to ensure that Drexel squash will be a success.”
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