LA JOLLA, Calif. – After leading the Tritons' women's tennis program for the last 44 seasons, UC San Diego head coach Liz LaPlante has announced her retirement effective July 1. LaPlante's standout career included 608 dual match wins, four Division III national titles and five runner-up finishes.
 
"I am beyond grateful for the 44 years I've spent as the tennis coach at UC San Diego," said LaPlante.  "I was hired as an inexperienced, naive 21-year-old, and never could imagine I would be so lucky and love this job so much. Being a part of the growth of this athletic program from Division III to Division II to Division I has been amazing. The best part of my job has been getting to know and coach so many awesome young women. Bringing a team together, helping them improve, and watching them have so much fun and become lifelong friends has been the greatest joy and reward."

During her 44 years on the La Jolla campus, LaPlante has amassed a .640 winning percentage with her 608-342 overall record. She posted double-digit win totals in all but seven of her full campaigns. Her teams had 20 or more wins on five different occasions.

Over her first 21 seasons at UC San Diego, La Plante became the most successful coach in NCAA Division III women's tennis history. Her squads qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships 19 times, winning four national titles, and finishing second on five other occasions. The Tritons also placed third nationally three times.

LaPlante was honored as the NCAA Division III Coach of the Decade in 1991. She was also the 2000 ITA Division III Coach of the Year. Over the course of 44 seasons at UC San Diego, LaPlante coached 30 All-Americans.
 
"I want to thank Liz LaPlante for her tireless service to UC San Diego over the last 44 years and for the tremendous success that she created for our women's tennis players at the Division III, II and I levels," said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. "Her commitment to our scholar-athletes has created a strong foundation to develop life-long relationships and an engaged alumni base."
 
"Now at 65 years old it's time for me to do what I want to do every single day, and that's called retirement," LaPlante added. "I want to be there for my first granddaughter and spend time with my family and friends, but most importantly I know it is time for the program. I always wondered if I would know when it was time – and I know – and I have no regrets. The program is headed in the right direction and now it's time for someone else to take the lead."
 
LaPlante graduated from San Diego State in 1979 and took over the UC San Diego program shortly thereafter, beginning as head coach in 1980. She guided the Tritons from Division III, through the Division II era, and now, into Division I.
 
"I am forever grateful to former AD Judy Sweet who took a risk and hired me, who was such a pioneer for women's athletics and instrumental in building this athletic department, and to our current AD Earl Edwards who had the vision to take us to DI," LaPlante explained. "I'm especially grateful to all my alumni who have contributed so much to the success of this tennis program and meant so much to me.  Thank you to my current team who worked so hard this year and gave me my final win!" 
 
In their third season of NCAA Division I competition, the 2023 Tritons have won ten matches, more than doubling their win total from the season prior. The program has one season remaining in its reclassification to Division I, culminating with active Big West membership beginning in fall 2024. UC San Diego's success was not limited to the courts. The team boasted the highest grade point average of any Triton program during the winter 2023 quarter.

Edwards announced that the department will conduct a national search for the program's next head coach.
  
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.