GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman head men's tennis coach J.J. Whitlinger announced today the hiring of Sasha Gozun as the team's new assistant coach.  

"We were very fortunate to land an assistant coach with the playing and coaching experience that Sasha possesses," said Whitlinger.  "He will be a huge asset to our program, and it was clear during the interviewing process that Sasha wants to help our program achieve new heights in the future."

Gozun comes to Furman from Campbell, where he has served as an assistant coach for the past year.  He helped lead the Camels to a 16-6 record in 2018 and a share of the Big South championship.  Under his tutelage, Campbell reached the 2018 Big South Conference Championship finals.  Prior to his time at Campbell, Gozun was a tennis professional at the Tucker Tennis Academy, where he mentored and provided guidance to high-ranking athletes and developed and implemented training regimens for various athletes.  Gozun has coached some of the top juniors in the nation, including three players ranked among the country's top 15.

A native of Orhei, Republic of Moldova, Gozun relocated to Sarasota, Fla., at the age of 12.  He was a four-year letter-winner at South Florida from 2013-17, where he achieved an ITA national ranking of 36th as a senior.  The 2017 AAC Player of the Year, Gozun reached the NCAA Sweet 16 as a sophomore and the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship as a senior.  He teamed with Roberto Cid in doubles, and the duo was ranked sixth nationally in 2015 and won the Bedford Cup Doubles Championship in 2014.  Gozun won four ITF Future Doubles titles in 2017 and 2018. 

"I am very excited and fortunate to join the Furman family and this program, which has such a rich history," said Gozun.  "I would like to thank J.J. Whitlinger and Jason Donnelly for the amazing opportunity.  I am looking forward to working with J.J. and the bright group of men."

A 2017 graduate of South Florida with a degree in communications, Gozun and his wife, the former Anna Alsup Gozun of Austin, Texas, are parents to two sons, Oliver and Owen.