By Carrie Rupp

It was one heck of a year for Philadelphia native Traci Green. Not only did Green accept the position of head coach of Harvard’s women’s tennis team, but she was also recognized nationally at the opening ceremonies of the 2007 US Open.

Named Harvard’s second black coach in history and first black female coach, Green began her tenure with the Harvard Crimson last July. Previously, Green spent three seasons at Temple University, where she led the Owls to their first winning season in six seasons.

Green adopted a Temple program that was 4-15 prior to her arrival. In her second season as coach, her team registered its first winning record since the 1999-2000 campaign, while her 2006-07 team went 16-4 overall, 8-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and reached the championship match of the A-10 tournament.

With Green’s guidance, Temple rose to a ranking of No. 85 in the NCAA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association ratings in 2007, marking Temple’s first-ever national ranking. Her team defeated three nationally ranked opponents, and five of her players achieved all-conference status. Green took a record of 34-27 to Cambridge.

Her success is not confined to the sidelines. Green, who started playing tennis at age 10 on the courts of the historic Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis & Education Center, was a top Middle States junior. While attending high school in Philadelphia, Green made the junior U.S. national tennis team twice and began her serious training in Key Biscayne.

From her days training at Key Biscayne, the Florida weather won her over. She went on to compete at the University of Florida, where she lead her team to the 1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship and won two Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championships. A three-time, first team, All-Southeastern Conference selection, Green was ranked No. 5 in doubles and No. 21 in singles in the national collegiate rankings during the 1998-99 season. Green still remains a career leader in both singles and doubles victories in UF’s record books. While at UF from 1996-2000, Green earned a degree in communications.

Green’s accomplishments both on the court and as a pioneer in the African-American community earned her recognition at the Aug. 27, 2007, US Open opening ceremonies. Numerous African-American women were honored on a night that was dedicated to Althea Gibson, whom many consider the ultimate pioneer for black women’s rights in all fields, not just athletics.

Green joined Aretha Franklin, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Phylicia Rashad, Dr. Debi Thomas, Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun and others in Arthur Ashe Stadium to induct the late Gibson into the US Open Court of Champions. In an atmosphere that was nothing short of electric, Green and the other honorees stood proud, honored by thunderous applause and lengthy standing ovations.