Commitment Profile
Countdown: Goulak Heads to UC Davis
by Rhiannon Potkey, 14 October 2015
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The UC Davis men's tennis program was the first to contact David Goulak during the recruiting period.
Although the early interest meant a lot to Goulak, it didn't initially push UC Davis to the top of his list.
"It was really like in the bottom of the five schools I was talking to before my visit. I really wasn't thinking about UC Davis seriously," Goulak said. "But once I stepped on campus it completely opened my eyes. I just felt like I was wanted, and they made me feel that way more than any other school that I visited."
The sense of comfort helped sway Goulak.
The Oak Park, Calif., native has committed to play at UC Davis. Goulak, a five-star recruit, was also considering Cal, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA and Loyola Marymount.
"I really wanted a team that was going to make me better and coaches that knew a lot about the game," Goulak said. "All the coaches I talked to were great, but I think the UC Davis coaches can really help me improve. They tell me a lot of things about my game and my matches."
Goulak is joining a program on the rise.
UC Davis has made swift progress under head coach Eric Steidlmayer.
The Aggies improved from a 5-15 record in 2011-12 - the season before Steidlmayer arrived - to 16-6 last season and a share of the Big West Conference title. In the last four years, their national ranking went from in the 200s to No. 58.
"The main thing at first is getting the kids up here to see Davis, the community and the philosophy that Eric and I have," UC Davis assistant coach Michael Meyer said. "Once we get kids here, we can communicate in person the culture, what we expect and the unique experience we think we provide and they actually have a chance to see it first person. They get to meet our guys, watch us practice, watch us coach and see the town."
Meyer is well-versed in Steidlmayer's recruiting pitch and coaching tactics.
He played for Steidlmayer at UC San Diego from 1999-2003. Once Steidlmayer took over the UC Davis program in 2012, Meyer jumped at the chance to reunite with his former coach.
