Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Santa Barbara on January 18, 2026
Women's Tennis
at Santa Barbara
The University of Utah Athletics
Women's Tennis
Janet Koch
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- jkoch@huntsman.utah.edu
Janet Koch completed her first season with the Utah women’s tennis program in 2019-20.
Koch helped guide the Utes to a 12-5 finish in dual play before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. Her experience as a top doubles player in the nation from her time at Kansas quickly translated to the success of Utah’s doubles teams. Whitney Hekking and Madison Tattini finished the season ranked No. 12 in the nation with a 12-1 record.
Koch began her coaching stint at Utah after an illustrious four-year career at the University of Kansas.
A member of ITA’s No. 5-ranked doubles team following the 2019 season, Koch garnered First Team All-American honors, as well as being selected to the All-Big 12 Doubles First Team, for her dominant play on the doubles court with Nina Khmelnitchaia. The pair was ranked the No. 1 doubles team in the country in the April 2, 2019 weekly ITA poll after the duo held a 12-1 spring record at the time of the poll, which included a 5-0 record against nationally ranked doubles teams.
As Kansas’ top doubles team, Koch and Khmelnitchaia registered an overall record of 26-6 this past year. The partnership reached the Round of 16 in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship before being upset by Tulsa’s top duo. Koch and her partner also claimed the prestigious Riviera ITA All-American Championship doubles tournament title in October of 2018.
Aside from the doubles success, the Durbanville, South Africa native also played an integral role to Kansas’ singles play. Koch spent her time as the No. 2 singles player for the Jayhawks as a senior and finished the 2019 season ranked as the No. 105 singles player in the nation. Koch was crowned the singles champion at the ITA Regional Championships last October to highlight her singles career.
Koch impacted the Kansas women’s tennis program immediately as a freshman and spent her time in the top doubles court and No. 3 singles slot, helping the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. She was a starter all four years during the rebuild of Kansas’ program and helped guide Kansas to the NCAA Championships three of the past four years.
Koch brings a significant amount of knowledge to Utah as a player, but also brings years of coaching experience to Salt Lake City. Prior to college, Koch coached at Edge Tennis Academy from 2010-14 in Stellenbosch, South Africa where she trained players ranging from beginners (age 10) to elite level players (age 25). Koch also assisted in the tennis camps held at Kansas, coaching athletes aspiring to improve their skills both individually and in groups.
Koch graduated with a degree in Business Management from Kansas in May of 2019. Besides her accomplishments on the court, Koch also demonstrated a commitment to her academic success and was named to the All-Academic Big 12 First-Team her senior year. Koch was also a two-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member during her time at Kansas.
Off the court, Koch stayed very active in bettering her surrounding communities by participating on a Student Athlete Advisory Committee that organized projects which focused on enhancing people’s lives through charitable works. She also has spent time as a nursing home volunteer doing various tasks around the homes in both Cape Cod, Africa and Lawrence, Kansas.
Koch helped guide the Utes to a 12-5 finish in dual play before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. Her experience as a top doubles player in the nation from her time at Kansas quickly translated to the success of Utah’s doubles teams. Whitney Hekking and Madison Tattini finished the season ranked No. 12 in the nation with a 12-1 record.
Koch began her coaching stint at Utah after an illustrious four-year career at the University of Kansas.
A member of ITA’s No. 5-ranked doubles team following the 2019 season, Koch garnered First Team All-American honors, as well as being selected to the All-Big 12 Doubles First Team, for her dominant play on the doubles court with Nina Khmelnitchaia. The pair was ranked the No. 1 doubles team in the country in the April 2, 2019 weekly ITA poll after the duo held a 12-1 spring record at the time of the poll, which included a 5-0 record against nationally ranked doubles teams.
As Kansas’ top doubles team, Koch and Khmelnitchaia registered an overall record of 26-6 this past year. The partnership reached the Round of 16 in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship before being upset by Tulsa’s top duo. Koch and her partner also claimed the prestigious Riviera ITA All-American Championship doubles tournament title in October of 2018.
Aside from the doubles success, the Durbanville, South Africa native also played an integral role to Kansas’ singles play. Koch spent her time as the No. 2 singles player for the Jayhawks as a senior and finished the 2019 season ranked as the No. 105 singles player in the nation. Koch was crowned the singles champion at the ITA Regional Championships last October to highlight her singles career.
Koch impacted the Kansas women’s tennis program immediately as a freshman and spent her time in the top doubles court and No. 3 singles slot, helping the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. She was a starter all four years during the rebuild of Kansas’ program and helped guide Kansas to the NCAA Championships three of the past four years.
Koch brings a significant amount of knowledge to Utah as a player, but also brings years of coaching experience to Salt Lake City. Prior to college, Koch coached at Edge Tennis Academy from 2010-14 in Stellenbosch, South Africa where she trained players ranging from beginners (age 10) to elite level players (age 25). Koch also assisted in the tennis camps held at Kansas, coaching athletes aspiring to improve their skills both individually and in groups.
Koch graduated with a degree in Business Management from Kansas in May of 2019. Besides her accomplishments on the court, Koch also demonstrated a commitment to her academic success and was named to the All-Academic Big 12 First-Team her senior year. Koch was also a two-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member during her time at Kansas.
Off the court, Koch stayed very active in bettering her surrounding communities by participating on a Student Athlete Advisory Committee that organized projects which focused on enhancing people’s lives through charitable works. She also has spent time as a nursing home volunteer doing various tasks around the homes in both Cape Cod, Africa and Lawrence, Kansas.
Utah Women's Tennis 25-26 Pronunciations
Thursday, September 11
Role models. Trailblazers. Legends. Celebrating our #AAPI student-athletes this month and always.
Monday, May 20
Recap: Utah women's tennis defends home court with victory over Oregon
Tuesday, May 14
A Chat with Anastasia and Mat
Wednesday, June 29
