Szabados hired as new Clayton State women’s tennis head coach
Emory assistant becomes fourth head coach in Laker women’s tennis history

MORROW, Ga. — JUNE 14, 2006 — Clayton State athletic director Mason Barfield announced on Wednesday the hiring of Tamas Szabados as the new women’s tennis head coach. The Salgotarjan, Hungary native becomes the fourth head coach in the history of women’s tennis at Clayton State. He replaces Elizabeth Searl, who paced the Lakers to a 70-53 mark in six seasons as head coach.

Currently the assistant men’s coach at neighboring NCAA Division III power Emory, Szabados starts his new position at Clayton State on August 1.

“We are very excited about Tamas Szabados’ decision to join our Clayton State athletic staff,” said Barfield. “He has been directly involved in one of the most successful college tennis programs – both men’s and women’s – at Emory. Our former coach, Elizabeth Searl, certainly set the table for a person of Tamas’ background to take over a program that is on the verge of elevating itself from a Top 20 program to one that can contend for a national championship.”

Szabados has served six seasons in different capacities at Emory. He started out in 2000 as both the women’s junior varsity coach and men’s assistant coach. During that time, Emory has won the last four NCAA Division III national championships in women’s tennis, and two of the last three Division III national titles in men’s tennis.

In addition to his coaching duties, Szabados has also served as a Physical Education Instructor at Emory.

One aspect that attracted Szabados to Clayton State was his familiarity with the Peach Belt Conference from his playing career at Peach Belt rival Armstrong Atlantic. He played for the Pirates in 1998, helping lead Armstrong Atlantic to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals with a 14-3 mark overall and 7-1 in the Peach Belt. That season, he went 7-6 in singles and 7-5 in doubles.

Szabados earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies in 2000.

Taking over the reins of the Clayton State women's tennis programs is Tamas Szabados. The Salgotarjan, Hungary native becomes the fourth head coach in the history of women’s tennis at Clayton State. He replaces Elizabeth Searl, who paced the Lakers to a 70-53 mark in six seasons as head coach.

Szabados comes to Clayton State after a successful six-yea stint as both a men's and women's assistant coach at neighboring NCAA Division III power Emory in Atlanta. He started out in 2000 as both the women’s junior varsity coach and men’s assistant coach. During that time, Emory has won the last four NCAA Division III national championships in women’s tennis, and two of the last three Division III national titles in men’s tennis.

In addition to his coaching duties, Szabados has also served as a Physical Education Instructor at Emory.

One aspect that attracted Szabados to Clayton State was his familiarity with the Peach Belt Conference from his playing career at Peach Belt rival Armstrong Atlantic. He played for the Pirates in 1998, helping lead Armstrong Atlantic to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals with a 14-3 mark overall and 7-1 in the Peach Belt. That season, he went 7-6 in singles and 7-5 in doubles.

Szabados earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies in 2000.