Jim Hunter Hometown: Dallas, Texas Position: Head Coach

Although Jim Hunter enters his third season as the head tennis coach for both the men and women at Nicholls State , he is no stranger to collegiate tennis in southern Louisiana having coached in the region for over 20 years. His overall college coaching record is 352-104 as he embarks on the Colonels 2007 season.

Prior to his recent arrival to help turn the Colonels' tennis program around, Hunter spent three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana as an assistant coach. While assisting the Lions, Southeastern won the Southland Conference Championships in both men's and women's competition in 2006. Hunter also guided two of his players to tournament championships and two NCAA selections.

Hunter spent the previous six seasons at the University of New Orleans where both men's and women's squads were ranked nationally. While coaching the Privateers from 1998-2003, Hunter complied an overall record of 159-63, and had coached several singles and doubles teams that ranked nationally in the ITA rankings.

He guided UNO's tennis teams to five consecutive winning seasons, which is still the most in Privateers history. For his players' outstanding achievements, Hunter was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2003.

Before assuming the role of head coach at New Orleans, Hunter took an eight year break from collegiate athletics. He made his head coaching debut in 1985 at Southeastern, and piloted the Lions to their best national ranking in school history at No.28 in 1987 with a 23-3 record. He was named the 1987 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year for his outstanding job in coaching his team to the Gulf South Conference Championship. He was twice named Louisiana College Coach of the year during his six year stint at Southeastern, and finished with a career record of 122-19, which was the best mark in Division I over that stretch.

The 67-year-old served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 28 years before perusing his passion in coaching tennis. During his tenure with the Army, he did tours of duty in Europe, Panama, and Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his distinguished combat service upon his retirement. Hunter received a bachelor's degree in history from Texas-Arlington in 1961, and went on to earn a graduate degree in the Command General Staff College of the U.S. Army in 1979.

Hunter and his wife Melanie Burt reside in Lacombe , Louisiana . They have one daughter, Lisa H. Epstein, who is a publicist/author in Montreal , Canada .