Navy announced that women’s tennis will become a varsity sport in fall 2009.

The school hired UMBC coach Keith Puryear to lead the program. In the last decade, Puryear has won 443 matches and 10 conference coach-of-the-year awards leading both the men’s and women’s teams at UMBC. Both teams made five appearances each in the NCAA championships over that 10-year span.

A graduate of UMBC, Puryear is also a former Marine.

“Coach Puryear brings to our midshipmen a wealth of successful experience and documented winning ways," said Navy Athletics Director Chet Gladchuk. “Everyone is very enthusiastic about Keith joining the academy family. His philosophies resonate the fundamental values and academic aspirations of our programs and his expect to win mindset will be just what we need to jumpstart our new varsity women's tennis program.”