The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Staff Directory
Baird, Paula

Paula Baird
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Alma Mater:
- UAB '98
- Experience:
- 1st Season
- Hometown:
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Instagram:
- @UAB_WTN
UAB alum Paula Baird joined the women's tennis coaching staff in July 2022.
The former Paula Biggs played at UAB from 1994-1998 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 #30 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
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.
The former Paula Biggs played at UAB from 1994-1998 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 #30 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
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.
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