DANBURY, Conn. - Ritush Venugopal has been named Head Men's Tennis Coach at Western Connecticut State University, announced Ed Farrington, Director of Athletics.

Venugopal comes to WestConn with an impressive history of coaching and directorships.

He was the Director of Tennis at Ridgefield (CT) Athletic Club from 1995 to 2006 and coached the Ridgefield High School varsity tennis team from 2002 to 2007. Since 2006, Venugopal has been Co-Director of Elite Juniors and Match-Making at the Four Seasons Racquet Club. He recently was named Director of the Western Field Club.

Since 1998, he has been the Head Coordinator of the New England USTA Fairfield County Club Summer League.

In 2005, Venugopal coached the Champion of the USTA Open Nationals Team Tennis Championships in Las Vagas. Two years later, he mentored the New England Men's USTA 3.5 Champions at the 2007 National Championships.

His playing career included qualifying for the Pilot Pen Tournament in New Haven, CT in 1997. From 1992 to 1995, he was ranked among the Top 16 in the Nation in NAIA Division I while he earned a degree in Marketing and Management at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA.

In 1989 and 1990, he was ranked #10 in the Men's Division in India.

The 2008 WestConn season begins on Thursday, March 27 with a home match against John Jay College at 4 p.m.