LOGAN, Utah - Aaron Paajanen (pie nen) has been named the head men's tennis coach at Utah State University, as announced by Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hartwell on Monday.
"Aaron has impressive successes in his coaching career, including conference championships and NCAA appearances. His student-athletes have excelled in both the classroom and on the court.," Hartwell said. "We look forward to Aaron joining the Utah State family and leading our men's tennis program to continued success."
Paajanen comes to Utah State after four years at Detroit Mercy, where he was both the head men's and women's tennis coach. Paajanen led the Titan men to a program-record 15 victories in 2018, capturing UDM's first Horizon League in men's tennis in program history. Individual accolades followed for Paajanen as he was named the 2018 Horizon League Coach of the Year, also the first in Titan tennis history. Under his watch, the Titan men improved every year, winning 11 matches in 2017, an eight-match improvement from the previous year, to the program-record 15 wins in 2018.
In his rookie season with the women at UDM, Paajanen coached one of his players to a perfect 9-0 record in Horizon League action, while a second earned second-team all-Horizon League in her senior season. By his third year, the Titan men combined to go 24-4 in conference singles with a pair of players earning all-league honors.
Prior to UDM, Paajanen was an assistant at Santa Clara for two years, helping the Broncos climb in the national rankings and finish as high as No. 42 during the 2013-14 season. During his tenure, two players were ranked in the top-20 in singles in the Northwest Region, while six student-athletes earned all-conference accolades. Paajanen was also instrumental in helping the Broncos build a 2014-15 recruiting class that was ranked No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 among mid-major programs.
Paajanen began his Division I coaching at Loyola Marymount, helping his players to eight all-West Coast Conference honors and a number of victories over nationally-ranked opponents.
Paajanen cut his coaching teeth at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., as an assistant coach under the direction of his father and longtime coach Jim Paajanen on the men's side and his mother, Barbara, on the women's side.
As a player, Paajanen began his career at Glendale Community College (Glendale, Ariz.) under head coach Greg Prudhomme, and was ranked as high as No. 33 in the NJCAA in singles. Paajanen then spent his sophomore season at Cowley College (Arkansas City, Kan.) under head coach Larry Grose, earning NJCAA All-American honors before finishing his career at Point Loma Nazarene (San Diego, Calif.), where he was named a team captain and graduated with a degree in kinesiology.
"I want to thank John (Hartwell), Jerry (Bovee), Jake (Garlock), Mike (Williams), Amber Rae (Childers) and everyone else at Utah State who has welcomed me to the family," Paajanen said. "I am also grateful for those who have helped and supported me along the way. This is a wonderful opportunity at an incredible university."
Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.
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