BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Samford head women’s tennis coach David Vest was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Southern Region Coach of the Year Tuesday after he led the Bulldogs to a 20-3 overall record, their best mark in school history.

Vest, who recently completed his seventh season at the helm of the Samford women’s tennis team, joined 12 coaches from across the nation Tuesday in receiving regional coach of the year honors. The Bulldogs, members of the ITA’s talent-laden Southern Region, finished 20-3 on the season, 8-1 in Southern Conference play and 4-1 versus regional opponents.

Samford’s only losses in 2014 occurred against No. 21-ranked Auburn, No. 68 Furman and Elon.

The Bulldogs finished the year ranked No. 69 in the ITA national rankings, their highest ranking in school history. Samford also spent a school-record seven weeks listed amongst the country’s top 75.

In 2014, the Vest-led Bulldogs strung together a spectacular 10-match winning streak and advanced to the championship match of the SoCon Tournament.

Samford concluded its 2014 campaign being triumphant in 18 of its last 20 matches.

As a team, the Bulldogs dominated play in both singles and doubles in 2014. Samford finished the year with a stellar 101-27 record in the singles competition, as well as a brilliant 49-17 mark in dual-match doubles play.

Vest’s ITA Southern Region Coach of the Year award proved to be the first of his career. Vest has been named the league’s coach of the year four times (2010, 2008, 2005, 2002).