HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College head men’s and women’s tennis coach Alvin Cheng has announced that he will be formally resigning his post as the leader of the Cobras tennis teams at the end of this season. Cheng and his wife Carrie has decided to move to Mount Vernon, Ohio to be closer to her family and start a family of their own.

“I would like to thank Coker College for providing me with a great start to my professional career,” said Cheng. “I have learned many valuable lessons while I have been here. I felt like I have done my best in my time here in continuing the work of former coaches.”

Cheng has been the head coach of the Coker tennis programs since 2005, achieving a record of 31-47 in women’s tennis and 13-59 in men’s tennis. Under his tutelage, the Cobras have reached several milestones; including earning the most wins in a season (11 for the women and eight for the men both in 2007) and having the program’s first Conference Carolinas Individual Champions (Rachel Lemar and Alyssa Blanchard won the conference doubles championship, fall 2009).

“Alvin has served Coker College diligently over the past five years and we are sad to see him go,” said Coker College President Dr. Robert Wyatt. “He is well liked by all members of our community and we wish him all the best in his future pursuits.”

A native of Malaysia, Alvin came to Coker from Eastern Kentucky University where he was the assistant Men's and Women's Tennis coach for the Colonels. He was ranked in the top-three juniors in Malaysia in 1998 and 1999 and represented his country at the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia in 1999.  Cheng was a four-year letter-winner at EKU and qualified for the NCAA Regionals at the University of Georgia in 2000. A two-time team MVP and team captain, he also won the Ohio Valley Conference Sportsman of the Year in 2002.

“I am sure that the College will find a suitable coach to continue improving the two programs,” said Cheng. “There is a bright future ahead for Coker Athletics and our tennis programs. Go Cobras!”