MCPHERSON, KS - McPherson College has announced the hiring of Sydney Bwalya as the new head men's and women's tennis coach, effective immediately.

"We are very excited to have Sydney joining the athletic department at McPherson College," said Jenni Richardson athletic director, in making the announcement.

"Sydney brings significant playing and coaching experience, and having coached at Barton County Community College, he brings a good knowledge of Kansas tennis."

"I believe that under Sydney's leadership, McPherson College tennis will experience growth in numbers and be competitive in the KCAC."

Bwalya spent the past four seasons at Barton County Community College, a two-year college that competes in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.

His 2009 teams finished runner-up in the 2009 Region VI championships.

Bwalya has coached four NJCAA Regional VI championship teams. His men's teams won in 2005, 2006 and 2008, while the women took the title in 2008. Following the 2008 season, he was inducted into the Barton Sports Hall of Fame.

Prior to assuming the head position at Barton County Community College, Bwalya was a graduate assistant at Washburn University from 2004-2005. Prior to Washburn, Sydney served as tennis director for the Joel Ross Summer Tennis Camp in Kent, Conn.

As a player, Bwalya represented his native Zambia in the Davis Cup from 1997 to 2001, captaining the squad in the 1998 and 2001 tournaments. Prior to being named to the 1997 Davis Cup team, he won the Zambia closed Championships.

While in college, Sydney was named to the ITA/NJCAA All-American team in 2000 and 2001. After finishing two years in junior college, Bwalya attended Washburn University where he played in the No. 1 position for two years.

Sydney has his Bachelor's degree in General Studies from Fort Hayes State University, Hays, Kan.