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Coach of the Year: Daren Carter

Bullard girls tennis coach led team to D-I title.

By Ken Robison / The Fresno Bee

Friday, Jan. 02, 2009 | 12:10 AM

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Daren Carter realized his Bullard High girls tennis team was a championship contender when it finished off the Clovis sweep.

“When we beat Buchanan, I felt like we were Valley material, because Buchanan beat defending champions Stockdale earlier in the season,” Carter said.

“Buchanan was the last team we needed to beat to sweep all the Clovis schools, and I feel if you can [do that] you have a chance to win a Valley title.”

Carter guided his alma mater to the Central Section Division I title match for the first time since 2001, and the Knights were all-square with Stockdale at 3-3 after singles.

But Stockdale accomplished a sweep of its own — of the three doubles matches — to take the title 6-3. For leading Bullard to that runner-up finish, Carter is The Bee’s girls tennis Coach of the Year.

A 1994 Bullard grad, he played tennis for the Knights for four years, including the 1993 section championship team.

Carter started his coaching career at Buchanan, guiding both the boys and girls to TRAC titles. This fall was his second straight undefeated CMAC championship for the Bullard girls.

He was an assistant for the Bullard boys who won the section title last spring.

“We had a great season,” Carter said, “because the girls were very dedicated, gave 110% at practice and never stopped fighting in all of our tough matches.”

The reporter can be reached at krobison@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6279.


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