Mario Yanez Tapia '17 has been named Men's Squash Head Coach at the University of Rochester, while Martin Heath '10 (MBA), has been appointed as Director of Men's Squash Elite Performance, announced University of Rochester Executive Director of Athletics George VanderZwaag.
 
Yanez Tapia has recently served in the position of assistant coach for three seasons. As a player, he earned 1st Team All-America honors for four straight years at Rochester. He was an intercollegiate doubles champion and was ranked as the #2 individual in college squash in his senior year. Yanez Tapia ended his Rochester career as the programs all-time wins leader, with 70, over his four seasons.
 
"I am thrilled to go back to the place that has given me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life," says Yanez Tapia. "My time at Rochester has been one of joy and happiness, and I am looking forward to giving back some of what I have learned during my time in Rochester. I will use the knowledge from playing on the professional tour to help student-athletes have a better understanding about the game, improve the way they play, and leave Rochester with a wider view and passion about squash. I am thankful for the opportunity that George and Martin are giving me in leading the squash program and I am eager to continue making it a world class squash program."
 
Prior to enrollment at Rochester, Tapia was a five-time Mexican Junior National Champion and a five-time gold medalist at the Pan American Junior Games.  He is currently ranked #81 in the world squash rankings, having previously being ranked as high as #76. 
 
"We are very excited to have Mario assume the reins of this great squash program," says VanderZwaag. "He has been part of our success since 2013, and he will build on this success in partnership with Martin."
 

Heath has changed the trajectory of the men's squash program over 16 years as head coach.
 
Since taking over the program in 2005-06, he has an overall record of 166-88 (.654) including a sparkling 46-11 conference record in the Liberty League. Heath led UR to its first ever appearance in the national championship match in 2015-16 and has coached two players to the finals of the CSA Individual Championships, coming in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The Scotland native also has been selected as Liberty League Coach of the Year nine times during his tenure.
 
Heath has coached a multitude of players to a total of 37 All-America honors, including Tapia and Ryosei Kobayashi '17. In 2017, Rochester achieved a program first, reaching the #1 ranking in the CSA following team win over eventual national champion Trinity during the season. Three of Heath's players, Benjamin Fischer '12, Kobayashi '17 and Ricardo Lopez '19 also earned the CSA's coveted Skillman Award, given annually as the top award in intercollegiate men's squash.
 
"Martin has set a standard of excellence in college squash," says VanderZwaag. "He has demonstrated great coaching skill, but more importantly, has established a tradition of educational excellence in our program. He will continue to help us move forward in a positive direction as Mario assumes the duties of head coach. I am grateful to have him continuing in this new role, supporting our students and Mario moving forward."
 
"I am delighted that George has given me the ability to shape the program in ways that have given the program sustained success," says Heath. "This restructuring is designed to be the optimal solution to build an elite level of player while still fostering the values of teamwork, camaraderie, individual pursuit and excellence in whatever we do."
 
"Mario has been an integral part of the team and coaching staff and has demonstrated not only excellence in playing but also in his knowledge of the game and his ability to coach the individual," further explains Heath. "In addition, Mario's ability to train the players to peak fitness and his ability to empathize with the natural stresses of competing and achieving at the highest levels on court and in the classroom provide another important perspective to the program. Mario is motivated to be impactful, and I am sure this move will lead to further success."
 
Heath served on the Executive Committee for the College Squash Association for the past five seasons, including being Men's CSA President in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
 
In addition to his success as a college coach, Heath has maintained strong connections to squash on an international level, working with national teams in the United States, Canada, Scotland and China. U.S. Squash honored Heath in 2011 with the prestigious U.S. Olympic Committee Coach of the Year Award.
Heath joined the Professional Squash Association world circuit in 1993. There, he spent six consecutive years in the World's top-10 ranking, reaching a high of #4. He was a six-time Scottish champion.
 
Heath graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BS in Physiology and Sports Science and completed his MBA at the Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester in the spring of 2010.