Jay Adams was named the head women’s tennis coach for Valparaiso University in July, 2007, returning to his alma mater three years after completing his playing career for the Brown and Gold’s men’s team.

Adams took over the program as Valparaiso moved into the Horizon League for its inaugural season.  In his first season at the helm, the Crusaders finished in ninth place in a challenging conference.

His team has shown success in the classroom, as five players were named to the Horizon League’s Academic Roll in his first season.  In addition, five more earned a spot on the honor roll in the fall of 2008.  Adams also had a student-athlete named to the Horizon League’s All-Academic Team in 2008.

Adams played at Valpo from 2001-2004 after transferring from Alabama State.  As a senior, he was honored by the Mid-Continent Conference as the league’s Athlete of the Week, and was a team captain during that same campaign.  He was a member of the Crusaders’ only Mid-Continent Conference championship team as well in 2002.

He had a stellar prep career as well, advancing to the state semifinals as a senior for Andover High School in Detroit, Mich.

Adams returns to Valpo after serving as the head girls’ tennis coach at Boone Grove High School for two seasons.  In addition to coaching, he has previous teaching experience as a tennis instructor at Franklin Fitness and Racquet Club in Southfield, Mich. where he worked from 1997-2004, the same club he grew up playing at as a youth.

Adams earned his undergraduate degree from Valparaiso in 2004 with a double major in criminology and psychology.  He went on to complete his master’s degree from Valpo as well in mental health counseling in 2006.

Adams is currently a mental health therapist in the Northwest Indiana area in addition to coaching tennis.