Columbia area coaching icon, and SC Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Bernie McGuire was recently awarded the USPTA High School Coach of the Year award. McGuire received this award for his outstanding work at Hammond School in Columbia. After his recent retirement from the Richland County Tennis Center, McGuire took over the head coaching position at Hammond School. During his first season as head coach, McGuire led the team to a 14-0 varsity record, including a 10-0 record at the Region Championships. Three of his players were voted to the All-Region Team (there are only six players on the team). McGuire was also voted AAA Region 1 Coach of the Year. What makes these feats even more impressive is that Hammond School’s tennis teams are no-cut. The teams' successes has lead to such an influx of players that the team now has a varsity team, a junior varsity team and a ‘Blue’ team for those who are just starting the game. When queried about McGuire’s success, Graham Cox, USTA SC Community Development Director, mused “Where do you go from here? I mean it’s tough to follow up a season like that when it’s your first season.”