![Irina Tereschenko](/https/sopa.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/styles/manual_crop/public/2024-02/irma_t200.jpg?itok=xr60Zuyi)
Biography
Irina Tereschenko is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement Sport Studies Graduate Program, where she teaches Stages of Athletic Development, a course designed to explore the complexities of the coaching process, pathways for practical application of sports coaching theories, and avenues for professional development.
Ms. Tereschenko has been coaching tennis for over 15 years and her professional experience includes working with tennis players at the collegiate, professional, and junior high-performance levels. During her time as a Division I Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach (Texas Tech University and the University of Washington) and Program Director at the Gorin Tennis Academy, Ms. Tereschenko worked on the player development and administrative sides of the coaching process.
Currently, Ms. Tereschenko is playing on the professional pickleball circuit and experiencing a competitive rebirth following a lengthy break after the completion of her playing career as a top-ranked tennis player at Texas Tech University. She is a USA Pickleball National Champion in Pro Singles and Doubles and a US Open Pickleball Champion in Women’s Pro Doubles. To keep things fresh, she is also involved in academic research projects related to coaching and coach education at the Center for Leadership in Athletics at the University of Washington.
Tereschenko holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a Master’s degree in Sport Management from Texas Tech University. She resides in Tucson, AZ but is frequently competing in pickleball tournaments and helping grow the sport around the world. Her hobbies include cheering for the New Orleans Saints, kiteboarding, snowboarding, and reading classical Russian fiction and poetry.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Every country in South America. Just need to brush up on my languages
Without saying what the category is, what are your top five?
Whistler/Blackcomb
Mount Baker
Copper Mountain
Steven's Pass
Park City
What is your favorite app and why?
Yahoo Sports - I can get scores, tickets, and watch a variety of sporting events on it, as well as customize the content to follow my favourite sports and teams (Obviously, the All Blacks, the best rugby team ever from South Africa).
Awards & Honors
- 2023 Distinguished Faculty Award