The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women’s Tennis Names Blazer Legend Paula Baird Assistant Coach
6/21/2022 3:09:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM – UAB head women's tennis coach Mark Tjia has announced that former Blazer Paula Baird will join the staff as an assistant coach.
"We are so excited to have Paula back in the Blazer green," said Tjia. "She will bring passion and a wealth of knowledge on how to be a successful student-athlete at UAB
The former Paula Biggs played at UAB from 1993-1998 and is one of the most decorated Blazers in program history. She was nationally ranked all four years in singles, finishing #47 in the country her senior season. In doubles, Baird was nationally ranked three times, with her highest coming in at #7 in 1998.
She was the first-ever Conference USA singles champion in 1996 when she was crowned at the #3 spot. Baird also was a doubles champion along with partner Mary Anne Martin in 1996 when the duo captured the crown at the #2 spot.
Additionally, she won back-to-back singles crowns in the Great Midwest Conference in 1994 and 1995 along with capturing a pair of doubles titles in 1994 (with Gulberk Gultekin, #1 spot) and 1995 (with Andrea Koppl, #2 spot). Baird was a two-time C-USA All-Conference selection, named to the second team in 1996 and first team in 1998.
Baird was part of two conference championship teams – the 1994 GMC and the 1996 C-USA teams.
A four time participant in singles and three time participant doubles, Baird represented UAB in the ITA South Region Championships.
Her senior season was capped by becoming the first UAB doubles team to participate in the NCAA Championship (with partner Mirela Vladulescu), advancing to the second round.
For her career, she graduated with the most singles victories in program history with 72
"I feel very privileged to, once again, be part of the UAB women's tennis program, and be granted the opportunity to work alongside Coach Tjia," said Baird. "UAB is not only the reason I ended up in the United States, but also gifted me with lifelong friends, experiences, and wonderful memories. Go Blazers!"
"We feel so fortunate that Paula will be joining our staff in a full time capacity after having been around the program as a fan and booster for many years," added Tjia.
A native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Baird graduated from UAB in 1998 with a degree in biology. She resides in Birmingham along with her husband Win and three daughters - Katie, Annie and Emily and dog, Penny.
Baird will begin her duties at UAB on July 1.
"We are so excited to have Paula back in the Blazer green," said Tjia. "She will bring passion and a wealth of knowledge on how to be a successful student-athlete at UAB
The former Paula Biggs played at UAB from 1993-1998 and is one of the most decorated Blazers in program history. She was nationally ranked all four years in singles, finishing #47 in the country her senior season. In doubles, Baird was nationally ranked three times, with her highest coming in at #7 in 1998.
She was the first-ever Conference USA singles champion in 1996 when she was crowned at the #3 spot. Baird also was a doubles champion along with partner Mary Anne Martin in 1996 when the duo captured the crown at the #2 spot.
Additionally, she won back-to-back singles crowns in the Great Midwest Conference in 1994 and 1995 along with capturing a pair of doubles titles in 1994 (with Gulberk Gultekin, #1 spot) and 1995 (with Andrea Koppl, #2 spot). Baird was a two-time C-USA All-Conference selection, named to the second team in 1996 and first team in 1998.
Baird was part of two conference championship teams – the 1994 GMC and the 1996 C-USA teams.
A four time participant in singles and three time participant doubles, Baird represented UAB in the ITA South Region Championships.
Her senior season was capped by becoming the first UAB doubles team to participate in the NCAA Championship (with partner Mirela Vladulescu), advancing to the second round.
For her career, she graduated with the most singles victories in program history with 72
"I feel very privileged to, once again, be part of the UAB women's tennis program, and be granted the opportunity to work alongside Coach Tjia," said Baird. "UAB is not only the reason I ended up in the United States, but also gifted me with lifelong friends, experiences, and wonderful memories. Go Blazers!"
"We feel so fortunate that Paula will be joining our staff in a full time capacity after having been around the program as a fan and booster for many years," added Tjia.
A native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Baird graduated from UAB in 1998 with a degree in biology. She resides in Birmingham along with her husband Win and three daughters - Katie, Annie and Emily and dog, Penny.
Baird will begin her duties at UAB on July 1.
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