Coaching Record
1993	14-5
1994	11-9
1995	15-4
1996	14-6
1997	17-3
2001	6-14
2002	8-13
2003	12-10
2004	7-17
2005	9-12
2006	7-15
2007	10-5
2008	6-12
Total	136-125

Chris Elwood

Head Men’s Tennis Coach

E-Mail: celwood@westmont.edu

Chris Elwood is currently in his second stint as head coach of the men’s tennis program. Elwood coached the Warriors from 1993-97 and returned to take over the reins once again in 2000.

During Elwood’s first tenure at Westmont, the Warriors won four GSAC titles and made four trips to the NAIA National Tournament. The Warriors claimed GSAC regular-season titles in 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and added GSAC Tournament championships in 1996 and 1997.

On a national level, Elwood guided his squad to a ninth-place finish in the NAIA in 1996 and then produced a program-best third-place national finish in 1997.

Elwood coached Riva DaSilva and teammate Ashley Fickel to a national runner-up finish in doubles in 1996. The pair then faced each other in the national singles final in 1997. Fickel became the youngest All-American in NAIA history and DiSilva became Westmont’s first tennis national singles champion.

A 1992 graduate of Westmont, Elwood filled the number one singles and doubles positions for the Warriors as a senior. While a student at Westmont, Elwood led groups of students to the Philippines to work with Little Children of the World, Inc, a non-profit organization founded by his parents which serves street children who have been abandoned in the Philippines and in Haiti. Elwood now serves as a member of the board for that organization.

Still active as a player, Elwood has claimed several titles including three at the Santa Barbara Open (two men’s doubles and one mixed doubles) and four at the Santa Barbara City Championship (men’s doubles). He was also a finalist at Ojai in men’s doubles.

Elwood earned his teaching credential in English at Chapman college and teaches PE classes at Westmont. He is also the Head Teaching Pro at the Valley Club in Montecito, and is a USTPA Certified Professional I. He and his wife, Tabitha, also a Westmont graduate, are proud parents of two daughters - Avila, who is three and one-half years old, and Aza Joy who is 18 months.

David Rubio

Men’s Tennis Assistant Coach

Dave Rubio has proven to be an important part of the Warrior men’s tennis program as he volunteers his time as an assistant coach. Rubio has worked at Westmont for 24 years and currently serves as a public safety specialist.

“Dave brings a great encouraging heart and a willing spirit to the team,” said head coach Chris Elwood. “He cares about what we are doing and invests in relationships with the guys.”

“When you have as many players on the team as we do this year,” said Rubio, “it spreads the head coach a little thin. I can come out to assist with drill or talk with the team or pray with the team. My role changes just about daily and with every match which makes it really interesting and rewarding.”

“I can assign an individual to him to work on something and then be freed up to rove around the other players,” concurred Elwood. “That is a great blessing to me. It’s hard to be in so many places at once.

Rubio, a Santa Barbara native, grew up in a tennis family. As a junior, he was ranked in the top five in the state for 12-14 year olds.

“My father was my coach,” said Rubio. “I played through High School and played at Santa Barbara City College. I fell in love with the game and I’ve taught a lot of tennis over the years. I’ve played with some great people and have made great friends. I got to meet my Jimmy Conners and we had the opportunity to coach youth soccer together. Our sons played soccer together and he was my assistant coach for three years.”

Asked what he wants to give to the Westmont tennis program, Rubio replied, “An understanding of competition - what it is to bring your biggest game and best game to the court. When you don’t bring it, you always wonder why that didn’t happen and how you can get it together next time. It’s learning to understand your strengths and your weakness. On game day, it’s bringing your best game through mental preparation and physical preparation. It’s something the players can take into their adult years whether it be in the business world or their relationships with their future wives and children.”