Pablo Russo ha s been named the university's new men's and women's tennis head coach, while Craig Penney took the reins of the men's and women's track & field and cross country teams.

Russo replaces Dave Engle, who retired after 10 years, while Penney assumed the spot after Steve Shutt left for a position at Gettysburg College.

The appointment marks Russo's debut as a collegiate head coach. A 2005 graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., Russo has spent the last four summers as the Head Assistant Tennis Professiona l at The La kes Country Club and Medallion Country Club in Westerville, Ohio. During that time, Russo was a standout studentathlete at Spring Hill, earning All- America honors in 2004 and 2005, conference Player of the Year honors three straight years and leading his team to three consecutive conference championships.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was a nationally ranked youth player, Russo studied at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa in his hometown from 1996-99. In addition to his coaching duties at Wittenberg, Russo is also the new teaching professional at Springfield Racquet Club.

The 2006-07 school year marked Penney's debut as a Tiger coach, but he has led cross country and track teams at six colleges in a coaching career spanning 29 years. His most recent stop was Shenandoah University, where he was the head cross country coach and an administrative assistant for media relations.

During Penney's 16 years as a cross country and track & field coach he has been named conference coach of the year 12 times. In 2000, he was named the United States of America Track and Field Mid-East Regional Track and Field Coach of the Year. Beyond Penney's individual accolades, his teams have won 15 conference titles. He has also produced 250 all-conference performers, 20 most valuable player awards, 52 National Qualifiers, and 32 All-Americans. Penney earned his bachelor's degree from Edinboro State University in 1976 and his masters' degree in sports administration from Ashland University.

- Ryan Maurer