Ruthann Allen is the head women's tennis coach at Weber State University. Weber State University is a Division I program and competes in the Big Sky Conference. She has been the head coach since 2019 and was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2022 after winning the school's first Big Sky regular season title in 23 years. She was also the assistant coach at the University of Utah for 18 years. Coach Allen competed as a student-athlete herself, playing tennis for the University of Utah. At Utah, she was an All-American and was inducted into the University of Utah Crimson Club Hall of Fame. Coach Allen holds quite an impressive resume, and we were more than lucky to have her answer some important questions about college tennis recruiting!

1. What are some of the most important qualities you look for in a recruit?

I look for student-athletes who want to continue to improve and contribute to a team and have goals in school and tennis. I look for recruits who seem to be reasonable, optimistic, and hard-working.

2. What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?

I like emails where a player's personality comes out. I also like to see videos that show them competing instead of just hitting balls with a friend or coach. Recruits should also be persistent about emailing. 

3. When and how should an athlete contact you? 

Summer before 11th grade is a good time to contact a coach. I prefer text and email. 

4. What are your expectations for incoming players in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the court?

My only expectation is that they do their very best in every area and seek out experts when they need help. 

5. What are the must-do's and don'ts when being recruited?

• I like to speak to informed prospects. I like when they ask questions and give answers that are more than just one-word answers. It is also always impressive when they know some things about the university.
• I am interested in recruiting student-athletes that are focused on school. A big red flag for me is when a recruit doesn't seem interested in school.
• I am also interested in recruiting student-athletes that want to know about the team and ask lots of questions to see if they will fit in well. 

6. What are the main dos and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?

I prefer a recruit to send me a video of them playing. They can add a few minutes of drilling, but excessive drilling is not helpful. I don't like seeing them play points against a coach or friend who can't run down balls that seem routine; this makes it seem like they are trying to make the player look better. 

7. Can you tell us the importance of highlight reels vs. seeing an athlete in person at events such as showcases and camps?

Some programs do not have the budget to recruit in person, so they have to rely on video and looking at results. Depending on the distance of a recruit, I would rather see them compete in person.

8. What do you look for when viewing the highlight tapes?

I am looking at technique, focus, footwork, and ability to reproduce balls. Having a competitive fight and body language are also important.

9. Do you have a story of an athlete that you can share?

I had an athlete who could not speak English well, but she managed to become a 4.0 student and achieved the highest GPA of all athletes at our school. I put this same athlete on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) despite her shyness. She became one of the best voices for the student-athletes at the school. 

I coached another player who barely made the lineup her freshman year, but after a couple of years of very hard work and mentoring she became a top 100 player in college tennis. 

I have a special student-athlete who is so inspiring to me and her teammates because she always competes despite everything she may be going through. She picks up her teammates and is just as happy for their success as she is for her own.

10. What can a player expect when they enter college? 

They should expect that it can be difficult to be a student-athlete. They need to have good time management skills because the schedule can be overwhelming at times. There is a decent amount of travel and it can be exhausting with your school and training schedule. It sounds like a lot, but athletes should all utilize the staff that they have to help them when things feel like too much.

11. What do you find most rewarding about coaching?

• I love college tennis and want my student-athletes to have a great experience becoming the best students and athletes that they can in four years.
• I focus a lot on the team and how each player can contribute and benefit the team.
• As a coach, I expect high intensity from my players, but I am calm when I coach.
• I love to see a player find success in something that they have struggled with but continue to stay persistent and dedicated. 
• Working with student-athletes who are committed to improving is always rewarding.
• I am also inspired by my players who have gone through difficult circumstances and they continue to stay positive and a strong force for themselves and their teammates.

12. What does it take to be successful on your team?

Be a team player. Work hard. They need to be considerate of teammates and coaches. Respect themselves, the team, and the school.

13. Can you share stories of athletes who have gone on to do great things after college? 

I have a former athlete who works as a news broadcaster. She was very persistent in trying to get experience while being a student-athlete. She covered soccer and volleyball and did interviews with other coaches and athletes while she was competing as a tennis athlete. 

One is working in the travel industry setting up corporate travel. She loves to travel and it fits her outgoing personality. 

I have another former athlete who works as an ultrasound tech. She was the “nurse” on our team when she competed so it is fitting.

14. What advice would you give an athlete to help them do well both on the team and in class?

Take advantage of the resources your school has. Our school offers tutors and mentors for student-athletes who can help them manage their workloads. I think many of the student-athletes I've coached struggle a bit as freshmen, but it gets easier for most upperclassmen. 

15. What are 3 words your players would use to describe you?

Hardworking, knowledgeable, and even-tempered.

16. What platforms do you use to discover or recruit athletes? 

Mainly WhatsApp and Email.

17. If an athlete is looking to become a coach, what advice would you give them?

They need to make a positive impact as a student-athlete; it makes it a lot easier for them to get hired. Coaches pay attention to team players and positive attitudes and want to work with assistant coaches who meet that profile. Athletes should engage positively with other coaches. Our conference offers a program to help student-athletes who may want to work in athletics. They should look for programs like this that can help them gain more knowledge.

18. Is there anything you'd like to share that we have not discussed yet? 

Coaches are recruiting based on open scholarships and availability on the team each year. If a recruit is set on a school but their graduating year does not have a spot available, then they need to keep their options open. 

I also want recruits to know that coaches sometimes make mistakes about who they don't recruit. Some student-athletes may not be heavily recruited but they may end up being a strong college player.

Image Credit: Big Sky Conference

* Originally published on August 28, 2023, by Bella Nevin