The University of South Dakota athletic department has officially announced the appointment of Pavel “Pasha” Zinchenko as the new head coach for its women’s tennis program. This significant leadership change marks a pivotal moment for the South Dakota Coyotes, as Zinchenko brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to Vermillion, embarking on his second head coaching position at the Division I level.
Deputy Director of Athletics Corey Jenkins expressed enthusiastic support for the selection. “We are incredibly excited to announce Pasha as our Women’s Tennis Head Coach,” Jenkins stated. “His experience as a DI Head Coach and Assistant, combined with his vision for the future of Coyote Women’s Tennis, made him stand out as the ideal candidate. Pasha will be an excellent addition to the USD Athletics family, and we look forward to welcoming him and his wife Nikita to Vermillion in the coming weeks.”
Pasha Zinchenko arrives in South Dakota following a successful two-year tenure as an assistant coach at Colorado State University. During his time with the Rams, the team achieved an 11-12 overall record, including a 5-5 mark in the challenging Mountain West Conference. His coaching directly contributed to the Rams advancing to the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament and maintaining a strong 7-4 home match record, showcasing his immediate impact on a Division I program.
His coaching prowess at Colorado State was further evidenced by the individual successes of student-athletes. Zinchenko notably coached a pair of doubles All-Mountain West performers in consecutive years (2024, 2025), alongside a singles All-Mountain West performer, Zara Lennon. Moreover, his strategic guidance helped a doubles team reach an individual conference tournament final within the competitive Mountain West, highlighting his ability to develop top-tier college tennis talent.
Prior to his impactful role in Fort Collins, Pasha Zinchenko honed his leadership skills over three seasons as the head women’s tennis coach at Delaware State University. Under his direction, the Hornets experienced significant program growth. Zinchenko was instrumental in recruiting multiple All-MEAC players, including the standout 2022 MEAC Rookie of the Year, Kit Yi Kate Au Yeung. His tenure culminated in leading the Hornets to the program’s first-ever MEAC conference tournament title match, a testament to his transformative coaching.
His commitment to building successful programs extends to his alma mater, where he served as an assistant NCAA Tennis coach at the Division II level starting in September 2018. During this period, he played a crucial role in guiding the Emmanuel women’s team to their historic first-ever conference title in 2019. This achievement remains the only conference title on the women’s side for Emmanuel, further underscoring Zinchenko’s capacity to foster championship-level performance.
Zinchenko began his coaching journey at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, where he served as a graduate assistant for both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at the NAIA level. This foundational experience provided him with a comprehensive understanding of collegiate athletics and laid the groundwork for his future successes in the coaching ranks, culminating in this significant head coach appointment at South Dakota.
Reflecting on his new role, Zinchenko shared his enthusiasm: “I’m very excited about the opportunity to lead the women’s tennis team at The University of South Dakota and would like to express my sincere gratitude to the hiring committee for selecting my candidacy as the next head coach.” He added, “It’s a privilege to join such a strong athletic department and I’m looking forward to getting to know all the coaches and staff members. While visiting on the interview, the university felt like a special place and I cannot wait to get on campus, meet the whole team, and start the season! Go Yotes!”
With his proven ability to elevate programs, develop athletes, and inspire teams, Pasha Zinchenko is poised to usher in an exciting new era for South Dakota Coyotes women’s tennis. His strategic vision and dedication to collegiate athletics promise to make a lasting impact on the team, setting a course for competitive success and continued growth within the NCAA Tennis landscape.
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