After a stellar four-year playing plcareer for the Nittany Lion Tennis program, Brendan Lynch enters his second season as assistant coach for Penn State.
Just after one season at his position, Lynch has already played a significant role in helping develop a young and talented Nittany Lion squad. In his first year, Lynch helped guide the squad to a solid 15-11 record, the most wins in a season for the program since 2008.
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Lynch finished his career ninth in school history with 79 singles victories to go along with 53 doubles victories. He ranks near the top on Penn State[apos]s charts in a number of statistical categories including first for most doubles wins in a season in 2007-08 (26), 13th in singles win percentage (.669), 14th in career doubles wins and eighth in doubles win percentage (.697).
Lynch tallied 17 wins during his senior season in 2008-09, 13 of which came in dual matches. He spent most of the season playing in the No. 1 slot for the Nittany Lions, posting a solid nine wins when playing in the position. He earned two wins versus ranked singles opponents, including an upset win over No. 28 Moritz Bauman of Wisconsin, who was 22-0 headed into the match. Lynch finished the season by winning his final five match decisions. Lynch also went 16-11 in doubles action.
During his junior year in 2007-08, Lynch came back from a collarbone injury and had a stellar season. After a strong fall season, Lynch pounded out five-straight singles victories to start the spring season. During the spring season, he went 16-7 overall in duals and 7-3 versus Big Ten opponents. Lynch finished the season with 26 wins in doubles action, teaming primarily with Michael James, to finish the season No. 33 in the ITA doubles poll. Lynch and James peaked at No. 14 on April 13 and earned four wins versus ranked opponents. Lynch was named the 2008 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winner for Penn State.
During his sophomore year in 2006-07, Lynch finished the fall with an 11-3 mark in singles, which was tied with Michael James for the team lead. Missed the first month and a half of the spring season with the collarbone injury, Lynch went on to win his first five singles bouts of the spring, four of those five wins in Big Ten matches which propelled the Nittany Lions to four consecutive victories in conference play. He completed the season with a 17-5 overall record, going 5-2 versus Big Ten opponents. Lynch was given the Iron Man Award at the team banquet.
In his first semester of collegiate competition Lynch not only found success on the court, but in the classroom, as he received Dean[apos]s List honors following the fall 2005 semester. Lynch was the last Lion to remain in the main draw of the Big Ten Individual Indoor Championships, defeating two opponents on the first day of action. He posted two 6-0, 6-0 victories in his first two dual matches of his career vs. St. Bonaventure and Bloomsburg. Lynch received Most Improved Player accolades at the annual team banquet and finished his freshman campaign with an overall singles record of 18-7, going 14-6 in dual matches.
Lynch, a native of North Potomac, Md., earned his degree in finance from the Smeal College of Business in May 2009.