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Craig Hamilton is in his 11th year as a Pacific Lutheran men's
tennis head coach after serving one year as a PLU men's tennis
assistant coach. During his tenure, PLU men's tennis teams have
compiled a 163-78 dual match record and won four Northwest
Conference titles.
Hamilton graduated from Pacific Lutheran in 1982 and was a member
of the Lute tennis team from 1979-82. He is ranked number four on
the PLU career singles victories list with 84, highlighted by a
25-win season as a freshman in 1979. As a senior, Hamilton was
recipient of the NAIA's prestigious Arthur Ashe Award, given for
his athletic and academic achievements, community involvement and
sportsmanship. He was the Northwest Conference singles champion in
1980, won the conference doubles championship in 1980, 1981 and
1982, and was the NAIA District 1 doubles champion in 1980 and
1981. He was an Academic All-American in 1981 and 1982.
Hamilton works in the financial services field. He and his wife,
Jill, have four children.
After serving as co-head coach for six seasons, Jeff Allen has taken a step back and is starting his second season as an assistant coach this year.
While serving with Craig Hamilton as co-head coaches, PLU won 84 matches and lost just 40 and won three conference championships.
Allen graduated from PLU in 1987 and was a member
of the Lute tennis team from 1984-87. He compiled a 51-27 record in
singles and a 32-10-1 mark in doubles. He was the Northwest
Conference champion in singles and doubles and the NAIA District 1
runner-up in doubles his senior season. In his sophomore season, he
earned all-conference honors after finishing second in singles at
the conference meet.
Prior to coming to PLU, Allen served as head coach of the boys' and
girls' tennis teams at Cascade Christian High School. His boys team
won the state championship in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and finished
second at state in 2003. His girls team finished fourth at the
state tournament in 2002 and took third at state in 2003.
Allen is employed by Wachovia Securities in Tacoma. He, his wife,
Rosa, and son, Jordan, reside in Fircrest.
Ricky Butenko, a former All-America tennis player at Pacific Lutheran University, is in his third season as an assistant coach at his alma mater.
Butenko graduated from PLU in 2006 with a degree in Finance.
Known as a very competitive player, Butenko brings a similar level
of intensity to the PLU men's tennis program. He currently is
employed as the financial manager at a wellness firm in Seattle and
when not working and coaching enjoys golf, bowling and spending
time with his fiance.
