Marco Ruiz, who holds a United States Professional Tennis Association certificate, is in his second season as head men's and women's tennis coach at Harding.
In his first season as head coach, Ruiz directed the Harding women's program to an 18-6 record, the Great American Conference regular season and tournament championships, and to a berth in the NCAA II Central Region Tournament. Ruiz was named GAC Coach of the Year. Harding's women entered the national rankings for the first time during the season, reaching as high as No. 47 in April.
Harding's men compiled a 9-8 record in Ruiz's first season, including a victory over nationally-ranked Southwest Baptist. The Bisons appeared twice in the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 33 in Februrary.
Ruiz, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was four-time All-Gulf South Conference for Harding from 2007-10 and also earned Academic All-GSC honors. He had a 37-14 singles record and 36-27 doubles mark, won Harding's Berryhill Award in 2010 and was named to the Gulf South Conference's Team of the Decade. Ruiz was Harding's graduate assistant for two seasons following his graduation.
Ruiz is married to the former Cari Fowler of Memphis, Tennessee.
