Jack Wyant to UPENN
July 30, 2004, By SquashTalk Staff; SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004

Philadelphia, PA -

In the latest move to try to re-invigorate and re-energize the UPENN women's program, Jack Wyant has been named the new women's squash coach at the
University of Pennsylvania, succeeding the coach for the past two seasons, James Martell.

UPENN, which won the Women's National Championship under coach Demer Holleran and then "slumped" to fifth after her departure, now turns to another celebrated Princeton Alumnus and squash champion, Jack Wyant, to lead their charge.

Wyant, though he has no prior college-level coaching experience, would appear to be an excellent choice for UPENN. Wyant only boast one year's high school coaching under his belt, in which, however, he raised the Milton Academy Girl's Team to new heights, coaching them to an undefeated regular season. But his high energy level, charismatic enthusiasm about squash in general, and immediately availability are all strong positives for Penn.

Wyant certainly brings sterling squash credentials to the table, having achieved much as a player and also as the eldest sibling of a fantastic squash-playing family, whose other members include Princeton standout Missy Wyant, Harvard and US Team star Tim Wyant, and current Yale player Chris Wyant.

"Jack has outstanding leadership skills which are apparent through his
undergraduate squash success and enthusiastic personality," Director of
Athletics Steve Bilsky, W'71 said. "I welcome him to our department and
look forward to working with him in the years ahead."

The game of squash has been in Wyant's blood for over 15 years. While at
Princeton, he was a three-time All-American and four-time All-Ivy League
squash team member. Wyant helped lead the Tigers to the 1993 National Team
Championship, while also earning the Intercollegiate Doubles Championship.
He was a three-year captain and still holds the distinction as the only
three-year captain in the history of Princeton squash. Wyant was a two-time
recipient of Princeton's George C. McFarland Trophy for Leadership and
Sportsmanship and was named the 1992 Intercollegiate Squash Rookie of the
Year. Wyant learned his squash at the midwestern squash hotbed of Cincinatti, Ohio.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be at Penn," Wyant said.
"I plan to do my best to improve upon the recent success that Penn has
already achieved. I am eager to get started and am looking forward to
having a great season."

Wyant was selected to represent the United States in international squash
competitions four times throughout his squash career. In all, he won five
national championships, including several before college. Wyant spent three
years as a touring professional and achieved rankings of No. 3 in the U.S.
and No. 16 in North America. He has traveled the globe, twice representing
the U.S. in international competition at the Pan-American Fed Games, as well
as playing in tournaments in England, Europe and Central America. Not only
did he put his squash skills to use, but Wyant also created and executed a
business plan to generate financial support through sponsorships to bring a
Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament to Cincinnati in 1998.

After leaving the squash world, Wyant served as an assistant brand manager
for Proctor & Gamble Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio for four years. During that
time he helped develop several concept testing processes and excecuted
multiple online and offline marketing programs for Fortune 500 companies.
Wyant also spent time as an analyst, operations manager and sales
representative for several entrepreneurial ventures in New York and
Cincinnati.

Wyant returned to squash in 2003 when he was named the head coach of Milton
Academy's women's squash program. His team at Milton went undefeated
(13-0) during the 2003-04 season, which included an overall individual
varsity record of 83-8. His duties at Milton included handling
communications and management issues with the athletic department, parents
and alumni, creating a Senior Day to honor the Class of 2004, and
instituting a Girls' Squash Alumni Day to facilitate interaction between
past and present players.

Wyant's appointment by Penn brings an outstanding new talent to the college coaching ranks. The characteristics and qualities he is likely to bring to the job will be an outstanding addition to the universe of college squash.

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