IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's tennis bolsters its coaching staff with Hermont Legaspi elevated to assistant coach.

Legaspi is back with the program for a second time, first time as an assistant coach after previously on staff as a volunteer assistant last year.
 
"I am happy to welcome Hermont back in an elevated role," praised head coach Elizabeth Ferris Smith. "He gave us a lot of time and energy last season as our volunteer assistant and I know he's ready to be even more impactful. He has a strong playing and coaching background and is incredibly passionate about the team environment and how he can be a positive influence to the team. He's also still a high level player and enthusiastic about competing. The combination of his playing and coaching experience will be very beneficial to the team."

A native of Northern California, Legaspi played collegiately at Sacramento State, where he was a consistent contributor in both singles and doubles for the Hornets. He earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week accolades three times, recording key victories over nationally ranked, Top 50 opponents and helping the team advance in conference play. Upon graduation, he was recognized as an ITA Scholar-Athlete and ranked among Sacramento State's all-time singles leaders in career wins during the program's Division I era.
 
Legaspi currently coaches at the Racquet Club of Irvine, located just steps from the UCI campus, where he develops high-level junior athletes while continually refining his coaching philosophy and expertise.
 
Tennis runs in the family: his parents are Marciano and Rosalinda Legaspi, his older sister Herzyl played college tennis for UC Davis (2007–2010), and his brother Herrick currently plays college tennis for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
 
Legaspi admires former professional tennis legend Roger Federer because of his effortless play and philanthropic efforts through his foundation. 
 
Off the coaching court, Legaspi continues to compete as a weekend warrior in local USTA SoCal tournaments and leagues and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

"When I first joined the team last season as a volunteer assistant, I was just grateful for the chance to learn and contribute any way that I could", Legaspi said. "That experience gave me the confidence and appreciation to gel more with the Eater team culture, and I'm super pumped to now step into a larger role! Let's go have a fun and eventful season. Go Eaters, and most importantly GO ZOT!"