Derek Siddiqui is entering his fourth season as assistant coach of the Gonzaga University men’s tennis team for the 2017-18 season.
Individually, Siddiqui has helped GU players earn three All-WCC honors. In 2015, Alvaro Nazal earned First Team All-WCC honors for singles play and All-WCC Honorable Mention in doubles play, along with partner Nick Kamisar. Kamisar also received Honorable Mention for his singles success. In all, seven players set or equaled career highs in wins during Siddiqui’s time in Spokane.
His first year on staff was one of the best years in program history. Siddiqui helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-11 record, the team’s first season at or over .500 since at least 2000. Also, the Zags advanced in the West Coast Conference Championships for the first time in school history, sweeping Santa Clara 4-0 in the opening round of the tournament, and their three WCC wins set a program record as well.
Prior to accepting the assistant role at Gonzaga, Siddiqui was a volunteer coach at his alma mater of San Diego State. He also gave individual lessons to other collegiate players in the San Diego area.
During his playing days, Siddiqui was ranked as high as 71st in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The two-time All-Mountain West honoree won 14 matches as a senior, including 11 at the top spot in the lineup. He also picked up 14 doubles wins his senior season, earning All-MWC Honorable Mention for doubles play that year as well.
He also spent two years at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., where he earned South Coast Conference MVP and Southern Section Player of the Year. He was the top-ranked junior college player in Southern California and No. 4 in the nation.
Siddiqui graduated in from San Diego State in 2013.
