PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State women's tennis head coach Chris Waterbury was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women's Tennis Coach of the Year, as announced by the conference office.

Waterbury guided the Cardinals to a 9-6 overall record during the 2026 season, including a 2-3 mark in conference play, as Plattsburgh State reached the SUNYAC postseason and advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Since returning to the program last season after serving as co-head coach during the 2019 campaign, Waterbury has helped reestablish the Cardinals as a competitive presence in the conference.

Plattsburgh State opened the season in impressive fashion, winning nine of its first 10 matches. The Cardinals also recorded six perfect 7-0 sweeps throughout the campaign, showcasing their depth and consistency across the singles and doubles lineups.

Under Waterbury's leadership, senior captains Jacklin Mitchell and Ava Carey earned First Team All-SUNYAC honors in singles and doubles. Mitchell led the Cardinals at No. 1 singles, while Carey anchored the No. 2 singles position. The two seniors also teamed up at No. 1 doubles, earning First Team All-SUNYAC recognition as a pair.

The honor adds to Waterbury's distinguished coaching résumé at Plattsburgh State, as he becomes one of the select coaches in program history to earn SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors in two different sports. Waterbury previously earned the distinction in men's soccer, where he is the winningest head coach in program history.