After three seasons guiding the Missouri Tigers women’s tennis program, Bianca Turati has returned to the Forty Acres, joining Howard Joffe’s staff as an associate head coach for the upcoming season. 

“Howard has been a coach who always understood me emotionally and helped me develop as a player,” Turati said in a press release. “I felt so honored and humbled when he called me. I can’t put into words how excited I am to start working with him and the team, and I’ll do everything I can to help the Longhorns win titles.”

Over five years ago, Joffe coached Turati and her twin sister, Anna, on the courts at the Texas Tennis Center. With their help, Texas women’s tennis saw top-ten finishes for three straight years.

Turati rose to No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings in 2018, becoming the first Longhorn tennis player since 1995 to take the top spot. While her success was cut short by the pandemic, Turati started 11-1 in dual match singles play in her final season. 

“I’ve seen Bianca grow throughout her career and now flourish as a collegiate coach, and her choice to partner with me is such an honor,” Joffe said. “I feel like I have led a charmed life with having so many wonderful players and in winning national titles, but to have Bianca return is one of the best feelings I’ve had as a coach.”

After a brief professional stint, Turati would find a home in Columbia, Missouri, serving as an assistant coach for the Missouri Tigers. Just one month in, Turati was thrust into the interim head coach role and was eventually named head coach of the Tigers. 

Under Turati’s leadership, the Tigers saw a great turnaround. From two wins as interim head coach to five in her first full season, Turati found confidence as a head coach and grew the program. In her second full season, the Tigers saw two ranked wins and 13 total wins. 

“Bianca’s depth and breadth of personality, along with all of her achievements as player and as coach, made this an obvious choice for someone to partner with in our intention to get Texas back to the top of collegiate tennis,” Joffe said.