After a decade as head of the Hoggard tennis program, Michael Bowen was recognized for all that hard work on Sunday as the North Carolina High School Tennis Coach of the Year. Thirty awards were given out to various players, professionals and organizations within the United States Tennis Association’s North Carolina affiliate during the state’s annual banquet.
During his 10–year tenure with the boys, Bowen has a record of 128-39, including six conference titles. He took over the girls program in 2000, with two conference championships and a 58-33 record.
Three former players are now playing in college (McKayla Zupan – Appalachian State, Noah Milliken – University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Chase Horton – Methodist).
The Hoggard boys reached the state semifinals in dual team playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Zupan finished second in the state in singles in 2011.
Bowen also played a big role in helping push for a $170,000 renovation project to redo the unsafe courts at the school on Shipyard Boulevard. The two-year effort was complete in 2013 after spending a pair of seasons without a home court.
Bowen received the honor during USTA North Carolina Tennis Weekend. The association’s 30,000-strong membership was well-represented in Pinehurst as part of the annual North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Long known for its affinity for tennis, Wilmington has the highest USTA membership and active leagues in the state.
