Sacramento State

After a stellar playing career at Sacramento State, Clarisse Baca returned to her alma mater as the acting head coach for the 2016-17 season.

In her first season leading the program Baca guided the Hornets to a 7-4 Big Sky record and a fourth place finish in the league. The team won seven home matches during the season including a 6-2 home Big Sky record. The team had quality non-conference wins as well, beating San Francisco at home and earning a win at San Diego State. 

The Hornets had three players earn All-Big Sky honors, including a first team selection for junior Ana Loaiza Esquivias, who was 10-1 in Big Sky matches and 17-6 overall playing at No. 1 and was named Big Sky Player of the Week four times. Freshman Sofia Gulnova and sophomore Sofia Wicker also had 10-1 Big Sky singles records and made the All-Big Sky second team and honorable mention, respectively. 

Baca had been a junior coach since graduating in 2012, starting her tennis coaching career working with kids ages 8-14 while she also served as the marketing manager of a local real estate company. She has also been an entrepreneur, as she is the CEO and Co-founder of Activity Jungle, a marketplace that helps parents find children's activities.

Baca not only has her bachelor's degree from Sacramento State but also earned a graduate degree from the University in 2015, completing an MBA with a focus in entrepreneurship and global business.

As a player Baca led the Hornets to four straight Big Sky regular season and Tournament championships and four berths in the NCAA Tournament. She was a four-time All-Big Sky selection, named to the first team three times after being a second team selection as a freshman. She was also named Big Sky Player of the Week three times during her standout career.

Baca was the team captain for three years and helped the Hornets earn a top-30 national ranking as the team's No. 4 singles player and No. 2 doubles. She was undefeated in Big Sky dual play and was part of the 112-match unbeaten streak the program had against Big Sky opponents.

A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Baca was a star before college as well, ranking as a top-3 junior player in Mexico and participating in several international competitions. She was recruited to play at Sacramento State after graduating from Salle Chihuahua High School in 2007.

Baca is married to John Meidinger, who is also a Sacramento State alum.