Cambridge,
MA — Massachusetts Institute of Technology has named Thierry Lincou as
its new head squash coach.
Lincou takes over for Nadeem Mazen, who led MIT to a 25-64 record over
the past five seasons. MIT concluded the 2013 – 2014 season ranked 31st
in the nation.
On Thursday, Julie Soriero, MIT’s Director of Athletics and Department
Head of DAPER, announced new coaches for sailing, soccer, and squash.
Soriero said that for all three appointees, “their own personal
experience as competitors as well as their ability to instruct and coach
will immediately influence the success of our programs and impact the
experiences of the student-athletes.”
Lincou, a native of France, was a staple in the Professional Squash
Association (PSA) for over a decade. He entered the top 10 of the PSA in
September 2001 and never looked back. He was ranked number 1 in the
world for two months in 2004 and for the entire calendar year of 2005.
Lincou amassed a career record of 288 – 115 in PSA play. His 23 PSA
tournament victories include the World Open (2004) and the Hong Kong
Open (2004). In the United States, Lincou was a finalist in the
Tournament of Champions in 2003 and 2005.
Lincou represented his country on numerous occasions, including the
European Championships team and individual events. He captured the
European Championships Individual title in 2009 and 2010, and was the
runner up in 2008 and 2011. In 2009 Lincou was an Ambassador for Squash,
making a presentation to the International Olympic Committee for the
inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games.
After retiring from the PSA in October 2012, Lincou played in the
Professional Squash Tour (PST). He captured the PST title for the 2013 –
2014 season.
Lincou becomes the 10th squash coach in the history of MIT. Since
beginning competition in 1929, the Engineers have amassed a 350 – 764
record. The program’s first coach, Jack Summers (coached from 1933 –
1956), and second coach, Edward Crocker (coached from 1957 – 1983), are
members of the Men’s College Squash Association Hall of Fame.
Lincou joins several other former PSA players currently coaching in the
collegiate ranks, including Hansi Wiens (Dartmouth), Gavin Jones
(Franklin & Marshall), Martin Heath (Rochester), and John White (Drexel).
May 4, 2014 - Thierry Lincou beat David Palmer in four games to win
the 2014 Professional Squash Tour World Championship on Sunday
afternoon in front of a capacity crowd at the Detroit Athletic Club
in Detroit, Michigan.
Palmer & Lincou for PST
Championship
May 3, 2014 - PST's reigning champion David Palmer
will face his long time nemesis Thierry Lincou in Sunday afternoon's
championship match.
The match will be broadcast live on ProSquashTV.com from the Detroit
Athletic Club. This is PST's third year hosting its season finale at the
DAC.
"We love the club, the members and the setting," says PST's Joe McManus.
"And Sunday's final will be the greatest we've had to date. It's a dream
final."
"It's impossible to tell how many more times these two will meet in a
tournament championship. Sunday's match could be an historic moment."
Palmer started slowly in his semi-final with Northern Ireland's John
Roberts, who impressed the champion with impressive shot making. Roberts
jumped to a lightning fast 5-1 lead on the strength of some impressive
shooting.
Palmer, however, was quickly able to right the ship and win 10 of the
next 11 points and take game one 11-6. Game two was all Palmer as he
cruised to a 11-1 victory.
Roberts didn't fade though and the young Irishman lost a close 11-9
final game.
Thierry Lincou also won in three games, but his path was much more
intense. His opponent Robbie Temple was worthy advisary as he battled
France's legend every step. Game one went to extra points, and Temple
had the first game ball at 10-9. Lincou eventually prevailed 14-12.
Games two and three featured both players criss crossing the court with
extended rallies that delighted the gallery. Lincou prevailed in both
winning 11-9 and 11-8.
Tomorrow's championship match will start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time and will be broadcast live on ProSquashTV.com.
Lincou Triple Fake,
just for fun !
Tri-State Open
LiveTechnology Park
Tuxedo Park, NY 27
Avril 2014,
Finals :
Thierry LINCOU / David
PALMER Thierry Lincou Wins Tri-State Open Game scores:8-11, 11-4,
11-6, 11-9
David Palmer, Wayne Reuvers, Thierry Lincou
April 27, 2014- Thierry Lincou won the Tri-State
Open on Sunday afternoon in front of a capacity
crowd at LiveTechnology.
Game scores in his 42 minute match with David
Palmer were 8-11, 11-4,11-6, 11-9.
The two icons spent considerable time over the
past several days running clinics for juniors
and adults, playing doubles and exhibition
matches, and discussing the game with local
fans.
Neither man has dropped a game en route to the
finals.
In the main event of the night, the format was to be played best out
of 5 games, but with the caveat that if the match went to a fifth
and deciding game, the two would only play one point to decidethe
title. Both Palmer and Lincou came to win, but only one would hoist
the trophy to become THE legend of all legends.
Lincou took the first point with a tight drive. Palmer answered with
an unreachable forehand cross. Both known for their fitness, this
was natural selection at its finest. It quickly became apparent that
though both had shown up to win, neither had lost their sense of
humor in the process. This match would prove a joy to watch for the
packed audience of squash enthusiasts. Lincou took the first 11-8.
The
second game opened with a rally that set the tone of the game, and
left the audience in awe, if not breathless on behalf of the players
involved. Endurance was the name of the game with both players only
becoming more precise in their movement and placement on court. A
memorable moment came when Lincou asked for a let, calling
interference on his own foot/shoe. The referee called“no let”to
which Palmer exclaimed: "Good, a ref of less experience might have
fallen for that!" Palmer took the second, 11-5.
The third game showcased both players’ strengths, ability and
again, humor. Both battled to outdo the other, dropping shot after
shot into the nick. At one point, Palmer left to change his racket,
and a young audience member lent a hand to warm up his new racket.
The additional rest didn’t prove enough however, with Palmer losing
the game 11-7.
The fourth game had Palmer in the lead early on, but Lincou was
quick on his feet and worked hard to push Palmer to his limits. In
the end, it was Lincou who placed the final ball into the tin, and
Palmer tied up the match, 2-2.
In the end, the match culminated in sudden death, one rally takes
it all, fashion. Expecting a long, attritional rally, Lincou
surprised everyone by going for it in the first three shots and
hitting a ridiculously tight length that forced Palmerto hit a loose
shot down the middle, affording Lincou the opportunity to take the
win by stroke. He immediately threw up his hands in victory… but no!
The ref called“let ball” giving Palmer a reprieve (to the audience’s
great delight!) Palmer quickly took advantage of his good fortune,
looking to end the match with a nick that rolled out, but Lincou
calleda dubious let.Although it was a clear winner and very little
interference was there, the referee -in an unprecedented move -
called for the point to be replayed.
Palmer re-enacted the previous point driving home the ball, and his
point, to finish it all with a beautiful smash directly into the
nick! Palmer defeated Lincou 1-0 to take the 2014 Bermuda Legends
Title.
11 April, Day THREE :
Thierry Lincou bt Simon Parke
(11-5, 11-7)
Day three of the
Bermuda Legends as the eight stars played the final roundof pool
matches to decide who makes Grand Final ...
From the beginning Lincou came out
strong and while Parke fought hard, it was Lincou who controlled the
first game. The second game started on more even footing, with both
players at one point tied at 3-3.
Then the rallies began to lengthen, with both men showing incredible
endurance, speed and fancy footwork while digging out ball after
ball.
Parke was in the end outplayed in the second game, though he kept
his signature good humor alive throughout the match and well into
his post-game interview when he was quick to warn Lincou to “wait
until you’re 41”.
10 April, Day TWO:
Thierry Lincou bt
Lee Beachill
12-10, 11-8
In the first
match of the night, two very experienced players took to the courts
in a well-contested match. Both were hitting the ball crisply and
with great pace. Each game went back and forth, but it always seemed
as if Thierry had the edge and necessary fitness (on these hot
courts!) to push through and win in a close two games.
9
April, Day ONE:
Opening Night with the Legends
Thierry Lincou
bt
Peter Nicol (10-12, 11-5, 11-8)
Easily the match of the night, these two players gave the crowd a
real treat with their incredible shot-making and retrieving skills.
Peter and Thierry were diving, leaping, yelping, faking shots,
smashing balls into the nick, and at the end of each rally… gasping
for much-needed air!
The two craned their heads towards the two small fans on the ceiling
of the court, and breathed in as if trying to get air through a
straw! Yes, with 89% humidity and over 100 people packed into the
non-airconditioned gallery, their lungs were being tested to the
max! Nicol scraped through the first game after a few
uncharacteristic errors by the Frenchmen, but we all got the sense
that the latter had a lot more in the tank than the former.
And indeed, in the second, Thierry kicked into another gear while
Peter held on for dear life. In an amicable and highly entertaining
match, the Frenchmen took the third looking the physically stronger
of the two. Peter had this to say to Thierry: “Just wait another 5
years and then see how you feel!”.