The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is pleased to announce the hiring of former University of Central Oklahoma Women’s Tennis standout Kirtana Bhat to assist with membership, partnerships and marketing.
Kirtana comes from a strong tennis background having played four years at UCO and is the winningest player in the program’s history with a total of 120 singles and doubles match wins. She also helped UCO to its first-ever Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Conference title as well as two NCAA appearances.
While a student-athlete, Kirtana also served as a marketing intern for UCO Athletics, helping with social and graphic design initiatives. She has also worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play college tennis for the last four years, as the experience of being a student-athlete was invaluable,” Kirtana said regarding this opportunity. “I am excited to stay involved with college tennis and to be a part of the ITA in order to ensure that all coaches and student-athletes have a positive experience with our sport.”
Kirtana’s responsibilities with the ITA will include managing the day-to-day operations of the membership, overseeing the Spring Awards program, assisting in event signage design and production, as well as other marketing activities. She will also be assisting with sponsor fulfillment and the growth of the College Tennis Alumni Network.
“We are so excited and fortunate to have Kirtana join the ITA team,” said ITA Director of Partnerships, Alumni and Membership Corey Pegram. “Her understanding of the college tennis space, passion for the sport, and high character will advance our collective goal of serving coaches, student-athletes and alumni.”
“One of the greatest strengths of the ITA is our amazing staff,” said ITA CEO Timothy Russell. “We are delighted to have a person of Kirtana’s background and character join our team, as we continue to serve college tennis and work to provide added value for our coaches, officials, student-athletes, alumni, and partners.”
About the Intercollegiate Tennis Association
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow. As the governing body of college tennis, the ITA oversees men’s and women’s varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College divisions. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men’s and women’s varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court. For more information on the ITA, visit the ITA website at www.itatennis.com, like the ITA on Facebook or follow @ITA_Tennis on Twitter and Instagram.
