Fresno State Athletics
Cobra hired as Bulldogs' head coach
8/5/2019 11:30:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Mariana Cobra, who has led her teams to five-straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, comes to the San Joaquin Valley from the University of North Florida.
FRESNO, Calif. --- Mariana Cobra has been hired as Fresno State's head women's tennis coach, Fresno State Director of Athletics Terry Tumey announced on Monday.
"We are extremely excited to name Mariana Cobra the head coach of our women's tennis program," Tumey said. "Mariana has a proven track record of success in competition and in the classroom, and she has demonstrated impressive recruiting acumen throughout her career. We look forward to a bright future for Bulldog women's tennis under the leadership of Coach Cobra."
Cobra, who has coached her teams to five-straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, comes to Fresno State with more than six years of successful Division I head coaching experience at North Florida (2016-19), Idaho (2014-16) and Northern Iowa (2012-13). She owns a 91-54 career record as a Division I head coach, which includes a 37-11 record during conference matches.
"I would like to thank Terry Tumey, Frank Pucher and everyone at Fresno State that was involved in the hiring process," Cobra said. "I am thrilled to become a member of the Bulldog family and I look forward to contributing to the proud tradition of success that the entire athletic department has experienced over the years.  I am thankful for the opportunity to establish a culture of excellence that extends beyond competition, and into the classroom and our proud Valley community."
During her time leading the North Florida Ospreys, Cobra's teams claimed three consecutive ASUN conference titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances while going 49-25 overall (16-3 ASUN). In the classroom, her teams at UNF earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate of 1000 in all three seasons to also earn the NCAA's annual Public Recognition Award for being in the top 10 percent of their sport with a team grade point average above a 3.5 GPA in 2018 and 2019.
Prior to North Florida, Cobra's squads thrived in two seasons at the University of Idaho where she led the Vandals to back-to-back Big Sky Championships and the squad's third straight NCAA appearance. Her teams also achieved perfect APRs of 1000 in both seasons and Cobra was named the 2015 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year.
In 2014, she worked for DPF Sports & Exchange to help place South American student-athletes in American universities. Cobra started her head coaching career at her alma mater, Northern Iowa, in 2012, and had previously been an assistant coach for the Panthers from 2008-10. She also assisted at Case Western Reserve in 2011-12 and Middle Tennessee State for the 2010-11 season.
Over the course of her six-year career as a Division I head coach, Cobra has coached her players to 29 all-conference selections, including three conference Player of the Year awards. She is known for developing players into championship-caliber student-athletes on and off the court, while consistently recruiting top-flight talent.
As a student-athlete at Northern Iowa, Cobra was a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete. She posted a 65-28 singles record to finish her career ranked third in school history in winning percentage.
Cobra, who is originally from Brazil, graduated from UNI with a bachelor's degree in physical education (exercise science and sport psychology emphasis) and a master's degree in sports psychology.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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"We are extremely excited to name Mariana Cobra the head coach of our women's tennis program," Tumey said. "Mariana has a proven track record of success in competition and in the classroom, and she has demonstrated impressive recruiting acumen throughout her career. We look forward to a bright future for Bulldog women's tennis under the leadership of Coach Cobra."
Cobra, who has coached her teams to five-straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, comes to Fresno State with more than six years of successful Division I head coaching experience at North Florida (2016-19), Idaho (2014-16) and Northern Iowa (2012-13). She owns a 91-54 career record as a Division I head coach, which includes a 37-11 record during conference matches.
"I would like to thank Terry Tumey, Frank Pucher and everyone at Fresno State that was involved in the hiring process," Cobra said. "I am thrilled to become a member of the Bulldog family and I look forward to contributing to the proud tradition of success that the entire athletic department has experienced over the years.  I am thankful for the opportunity to establish a culture of excellence that extends beyond competition, and into the classroom and our proud Valley community."
During her time leading the North Florida Ospreys, Cobra's teams claimed three consecutive ASUN conference titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances while going 49-25 overall (16-3 ASUN). In the classroom, her teams at UNF earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate of 1000 in all three seasons to also earn the NCAA's annual Public Recognition Award for being in the top 10 percent of their sport with a team grade point average above a 3.5 GPA in 2018 and 2019.
Prior to North Florida, Cobra's squads thrived in two seasons at the University of Idaho where she led the Vandals to back-to-back Big Sky Championships and the squad's third straight NCAA appearance. Her teams also achieved perfect APRs of 1000 in both seasons and Cobra was named the 2015 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year.
In 2014, she worked for DPF Sports & Exchange to help place South American student-athletes in American universities. Cobra started her head coaching career at her alma mater, Northern Iowa, in 2012, and had previously been an assistant coach for the Panthers from 2008-10. She also assisted at Case Western Reserve in 2011-12 and Middle Tennessee State for the 2010-11 season.
Over the course of her six-year career as a Division I head coach, Cobra has coached her players to 29 all-conference selections, including three conference Player of the Year awards. She is known for developing players into championship-caliber student-athletes on and off the court, while consistently recruiting top-flight talent.
As a student-athlete at Northern Iowa, Cobra was a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete. She posted a 65-28 singles record to finish her career ranked third in school history in winning percentage.
Cobra, who is originally from Brazil, graduated from UNI with a bachelor's degree in physical education (exercise science and sport psychology emphasis) and a master's degree in sports psychology.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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