University of Colorado Athletics
Garcia Named Colorado Women's Tennis Assistant Coach
August 05, 2026 | Tennis
BOULDER — The University of Colorado women's tennis program has hired Erick Garcia as its assistant coach, head coach Anthony Pham announced Wednesday.
"Erick is a person of tremendous integrity and one of the hardest-working coaches I know," Pham said. "He brings a unique background with experience in player development, collegiate coaching and the professional tour, and that perspective will be a tremendous asset to our program. More importantly, he's someone who will fit our culture and connect well with our student-athletes. We're excited to welcome Erick, Kendra, Beau, Sonora and Maren to Boulder."
Garcia arrives at Colorado after spending nine seasons as the head coach of both the men's and women's tennis programs at Niagara University.
During his tenure with the Purple Eagles, Garcia coached 11 All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selections, including 2022 MAAC Men's Rookie of the Year Trevor Masi. He guided the Niagara women's program to three MAAC Championship appearances while leading the men's team to its first MAAC Tournament berth since 2015 during the 2022 season.
Garcia also mentored Hans Hach Verdugo, who climbed as high as No. 60 in the ATP doubles rankings during his professional career. In 2024, Garcia coached Vid Maric and Tanner Bedard to the MAAC Masters championship and Niagara's first-ever qualification for the ITA Masters.
Garcia's coaching experience also includes more than a decade at the Niagara Sports Academy in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he served as a tennis instructor while helping oversee operations. He coached national and international junior players, assisted with recruiting efforts and coordinated tournament planning, practice schedules, player development and daily academy operations. Garcia also gained coaching experience on the professional tour.
A Niagara alumnus, Garcia first returned to his alma mater as the men's tennis head coach during the 2007-08 season, leading the Purple Eagles to a 6-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference record and a berth in the conference tournament semifinals.
Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Garcia was a four-year starter and two-time team captain at Niagara from 2002-07. He compiled 69 career singles victories and 63 doubles wins while posting two 20-win singles seasons. Garcia earned MAAC All-Academic honors twice, was a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and received the Niagara men's tennis Taps Gallagher Sportsmanship Award in 2005.
Garcia earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Niagara in 2006 before completing his Master of Business Administration in international business in 2008.
Garcia and his wife, the former Kendra Daigler, a member of Niagara's 2003 and 2005 MAAC championship women's tennis teams, have three children: Beau, Sonora and Maren.
"Erick is a person of tremendous integrity and one of the hardest-working coaches I know," Pham said. "He brings a unique background with experience in player development, collegiate coaching and the professional tour, and that perspective will be a tremendous asset to our program. More importantly, he's someone who will fit our culture and connect well with our student-athletes. We're excited to welcome Erick, Kendra, Beau, Sonora and Maren to Boulder."
Garcia arrives at Colorado after spending nine seasons as the head coach of both the men's and women's tennis programs at Niagara University.
During his tenure with the Purple Eagles, Garcia coached 11 All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selections, including 2022 MAAC Men's Rookie of the Year Trevor Masi. He guided the Niagara women's program to three MAAC Championship appearances while leading the men's team to its first MAAC Tournament berth since 2015 during the 2022 season.
Garcia also mentored Hans Hach Verdugo, who climbed as high as No. 60 in the ATP doubles rankings during his professional career. In 2024, Garcia coached Vid Maric and Tanner Bedard to the MAAC Masters championship and Niagara's first-ever qualification for the ITA Masters.
Garcia's coaching experience also includes more than a decade at the Niagara Sports Academy in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he served as a tennis instructor while helping oversee operations. He coached national and international junior players, assisted with recruiting efforts and coordinated tournament planning, practice schedules, player development and daily academy operations. Garcia also gained coaching experience on the professional tour.
A Niagara alumnus, Garcia first returned to his alma mater as the men's tennis head coach during the 2007-08 season, leading the Purple Eagles to a 6-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference record and a berth in the conference tournament semifinals.
Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Garcia was a four-year starter and two-time team captain at Niagara from 2002-07. He compiled 69 career singles victories and 63 doubles wins while posting two 20-win singles seasons. Garcia earned MAAC All-Academic honors twice, was a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and received the Niagara men's tennis Taps Gallagher Sportsmanship Award in 2005.
Garcia earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Niagara in 2006 before completing his Master of Business Administration in international business in 2008.
Garcia and his wife, the former Kendra Daigler, a member of Niagara's 2003 and 2005 MAAC championship women's tennis teams, have three children: Beau, Sonora and Maren.
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