July 12, 2005
Barragan hired as Methodist head women’s tennis coach

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – At the same time that Methodist is hiring its new women’s head tennis coach, Francie Barragan is coming home.

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Barragan was officially appointed on Monday as the new women’s head tennis coach, Methodist Athletic Director Bob McEvoy announced. Barragan replaces Kelly Callahan, who posted a 24-8 record in two seasons at Methodist with two straight USA South Athletic Conference championships.

“Having been an outstanding high school player in Fayetteville and a top notch student-athlete at North Carolina State, Francie brings to our women’s tennis program a great deal of local prestige and notoriety in continuing to grow our already successful program,” said McEvoy. 

“She will be without doubt an outstanding role model for our young women and we believe will attract some first class women’s tennis players in the future to MC. We are very pleased and excited that she will be joining our athletic program family this fall.”

Barragan has spent the last three years working as the Community Development Coordinator for the United States Tennis Association (USTA)/North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C. She is also a financial analyst for The Todd Organization in Greensboro.

Barragan grew up in Fayetteville and was a prep standout at Fayetteville’s Terry Sanford High School, where she played on three state championship squads. She then starred collegiately at North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1996-2000 under head coaches Jenny Sell Garrity and Kay Louthian.

In her career at N.C. State, Barragan helped lead the Wolfpack to a third-place finish in the ACC and a berth in the NCAA Division I National Tournament for women’s tennis in 1998. She served as team captain as a senior, and was nominated for the NCAA Sportsperson of the Year by the N.C. State Athletic Department in 1999.

Individually, Barragan played No. 1 singles for the Wolfpack and was elected to the Dean’s List all four years at N.C. State. Her best season was a 16-8 mark in singles as a sophomore.

Barragan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing from N.C. State in 2000, and her Master’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from N.C. State in 2001. While in graduate school, Barragan served one season as a graduate assistant coach under Louthian, and was also assistant pro at the Highland Country Club in Fayetteville.

Starting her new position on Aug. 1, Barragan inherits a Lady Monarch squad that returns five starters in singles and five starters in doubles from last season’s 13-3 USA South championship team.