The unexpected resignation of the TCU men’s head tennis coach in July has been difficult for the team, but players said they are adjusting well.The National Collegiate Athletic Association said former head tennis coach Joey Riv‚ was in violation of regulation rules regarding recruiting athletes. According to NCAA guidelines, coaches are only permitted to make one call per week to a prospective athlete for recruiting purposes. Riv‚ made more phone calls than allowed, but Daniel Morrison, the director of athletics, would not comment on how many calls were made.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Riv‚ said in a story posted on gofrogs.com in July. “I deeply regret that I have negatively impacted both TCU and the men’s tennis program.”

Morrison said, “Coach Riv‚ recognized that there were excessive phone calls, and as a result he ended up resigning under the best interest of TCU and the tennis program.”

Senior tennis player Andrew Ulrich said that he and the rest of the men’s team are saddened about Riv‚’s departure.

“We are obviously all very upset,” Ulrich said. “It is sad when you have built a relationship with a guy for three years and then all of a sudden he is gone.”

“It hurt for all of us in the tennis community to have to see him go,” Ulrich added.

Dave Borelli, who had been the head women’s tennis coach for the last four seasons, became the new men’s coach after Riv‚ resigned.

Borelli was selected from more than 80 candidates for the position. He has raised the TCU women’s program to top 15 status and has earned seven women’s national championships from his days as the women’s coach at University of Southern California.

“I was pretty devastated,” Borelli said of Riv‚’s resignation. “Joey and I were really close. I have maybe three or four people that I would consider to be my closest friends and Joey is certainly one of them.”

Ulrich said the guys on the team are adapting well to playing under the direction of their new coach.

“I really can’t say enough about coach Borelli,” Ulrich said. “He’s a first-class guy, and it has really helped having him with us. He is and always has been really supportive of both girls and guys teams.”

Borelli has worked with men’s teams in the past with successful results, primarily throughout the 1990s, when he worked with top men college players.

“Sometimes a change can be good,” Borelli said, “as long as the change is a productive and positive one.

“TCU has always had a great tradition in men’s tennis, and I would like to continue that and bring it to a higher level.