Hamilton, N.Y. - Colgate University's interim athletic director Don Vaughan has announced the hiring of Patrick Fisher as head men's and women's tennis coach.

Fisher replaces Ned Wheeler who plans to attend graduate school in the fall.

"We feel that Patrick is a very good fit here at Colgate," said Vaughan.  "He is a hard worker who has plenty of experience coming into the position."

Fisher was a 2001 graduate of Ferris State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and professional tennis management.  At Ferris State, Fisher competed all four years in the NCAA Division II National Team Tournament and was ranked in the top twenty-five nationally by the NCAA from 1998-99.  He was named to the Great Lakes all-conference team in 1999.

Prior to joining the Colgate staff, Fisher was an assistant coach at Western Michigan University.  While there the Broncos were ranked in the top 75 in the nation and qualified for the 2004 NCAA tournament.

Before Western Michigan, Patrick was a tennis professional at the Mid-Town Tennis Club in Chicago, Illinois, where he taught all levels of adults and juniors and gave private lessons.  He also coached adult USTA teams and assisted with running junior and adult tennis tournaments.

Fisher and the Colgate tennis squads begin tournament play in the fall of 2004.