Women’s tennis coach Dima Hrynashka has coached tennis teams to success at many levels.

Shortly before he turned pro he began having back problems and the pain affected his serving mechanics. However, he was determined to be involved in tennis even if he couldn’t play.

“I first thought of coaching when I was 17 and injured my back,” Hrynashka said.

At 18 he turned professional, but had to retire because his back problems prevented him from serving effectively.

He began coaching in 1998, when he tutored players at the Olympic Center of Belarus. He has coached the 14-and-under, 16-and-under and 18-and-under teams for Belarus junior nationals.

In 2003 his daughter’s 14-and-under team won the world championship at the National Youth Competition.

“It is a great memory winning the championship for my country,” Hrynashka said.

Hrynashka spent one season as an assistant coach before he became the head women’s tennis coach at Sacramento State, following current Director of Tennis Bill Campbell.

Hrynashka once played for men’s tennis coach Slava Konikov in Belarus. Through their connections they’ve both ended up coaching at Sac State.

“It was great playing for Slava. He is a very effective coach and I learned a lot from him,” Hrynashka said.

Hrynashka is in his second season as Sac State’s women’s tennis coach.

He led the 2007 squad to a 17-7 overall record and a perfect 7-0 record in the Big Sky Conference.

That year the Hornets claimed the Big Sky regular season title as well as the Big Sky tournament title.

“I like everything about the team. All the different cultures make practices very fun and I learn a lot about the players,” Hrynashka said.

The Hornet roster comprises all foreign-born players. During previous interviews with several players it is apparent that they really like their coach.

“He’s definitely my favorite coach I’ve had,” junior Joyce Martinez Gutierrez said.

Co-captain Martinez credits a lot of what she’s learned to Hrynashka, citing his perseverance in practice as an excellent example of heart.

“When he plays us in practice he shows us how to never give up,” Martinez said. “When I win, it’s not for myself – it’s for my coach and my team.”

Juniors Karina Jarlkaganova and Luba Schifris also expressed appreciation for their coach.

Schifris, from Germany, recalled times when Hrynashka did things to make her laugh and encourage her – sometimes with the element of surprise.

“He learned how to say ‘shut up’ in German and says it to make me laugh sometimes,” Schifris said.

Jarlkaganova is 20-4 in singles play this season and has played tiebreakers in three matches.

She credits Hrynashka with her development of the will to play extra sets.

“Sometimes when we get tired in matches we try to win for the coach because he does so much for us and we really respect that,” Jarlkaganova said. “We all really like our head coach.”

This season the Hornets have been dominant against nearly every Big Sky opponent except for Northern Arizona, who they still defeated 4-3.

Lopsided victories were recorded over Weber State 7-0, Portland State 6-1, Eastern Washington 6-1, Idaho State 7-0, Montana 6-1, Montana State 6-1 and Northern Colorado 6-1.

“I think he had an impressive career as a player,” Martinez said.

At 14, Hrynashka competed for the Belarus national team. By 16 he was ranked eighth in Russia’s junior class and was eventually a four-time Belarus youth doubles champion.

He also won the junior national singles championship when he was 16 years old.

The Belarusian connection has been solid for the Sac State tennis program, which alumnus Campbell has transformed from a 1-15 team he inherited in 1999 to a Big Sky powerhouse and nationally ranked program.

Hrynashka’s presence, along with Konikov’s, has helped bring recruits from Belarus such as sophomore Katrina Zheltova for the women’s team and sophomore Anton Stryhas and freshman Kiryl Harbatsiuk for the men’s team.

Zheltova, ranked No. 46 in the NCAA, is the Hornets’ No. 1 player.

“It’s a fun experience coaching scholarship players. Something I would like is to be a top-30 team eventually,” Hrynashka said.

Hrynashka believes in his players and thinks they can play at the top-30 level, a prestigious ranking in NCAA tennis.

“We’d like to be a top-16 team for him,” Martinez said. “He believes in us and that means a lot.”

Cameron Ross can be reached at [email protected]