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March 27, 2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's tennis coach Rex Ecarma will be inducted into the inaugural class of the Doss High School Hall of Fame in a banquet on Friday night. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who brought credit and honor to themselves and Doss High School through their performance, conduct and achievement.

"I am humbled to be included in the first ever class of inductees with the likes of Derek Anderson, Kim Pelkhe and so many others," said Ecarma. "With close to four decades of exceptional tradition is even more meaningful. My years at Doss helped prepare to compete at U of L. I am naturally a pretty intense and focused competitor but my high school coach, James Helphinstine, taught me how to have fun through it all. This has helped my coaching at U of L as well. I want to thank my parents who expected a lot from me but never pressured me. They did not live their lives through my sports career which was healthy for a young person. I also want to thank my brother, Reggie, who was a great player in his own right for Doss and U of L, for coaching me. My other brother, Roehl, for being my practice partner and also my sister, who was my biggest fan. Last but not least, I want to give a shout out to my high school teammates who were among my best friends for making our team like a family for four years."

The 1983 graduate of Doss High School, is in his 18th season as U of L's head coach. Throughout his coaching tenure, he has compiled a 266-199 career record, won two conference championships and guided his team to five NCAA appearances and two years ranked among the top 25 in the nation, reaching as high as No. 12 in 2006..

In 1990, he became one of the youngest head coaches in Division I tennis in the country at the age of 23 and has earned several accolades throughout his career including two conference Coach of the Year titles (BIG EAST, 2006 and Conference USA 2000), is a two-time Kentucky Tennis Association Coach of the Year (1998 and 2000). He was inducted in the All-Time Outstanding Graduates of Jefferson County Public Schools and, as a result of all of his coaching and playing achievements - as well as his involvement in the local tennis community, Ecarma was inducted into the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame in February, 2007.

Ecarma's successes are not limited to coaching. In November, 2000, he was given the Distinguished Filipino-American Award by the Filipino Medicine Association of Kentucky and Indiana. A sought-after motivational speaker, he was named among the Who's Who for Executive Managers in 1999. In 1998, he was named to Business First's "40 Under 40" list, as one of the top young leaders in the Louisville area. Ecarma also earned the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1997-98; the Community Service Award, 1996-98 and Mentor Appreciation Award in 1998.

Before embarking on his successful coaching career, Ecarma was a standout player for U of L. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother Reggie, who was a letterwinner for the Cards from 1980-82. Coach Ecarma is currently ranked second on the school's career doubles wins list with 92.

Ecarma earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Louisville, where he was the 1987 recipient of the coveted Ed Kallay Award which honors the top student-athlete in the University. He earned a Master's Degree in Entrepreneurial Management from Regent University in 1995. In 1996, he married Melissa Guess. They have three children: Alexis (7), Donovan (5) and Landon (1 year.)