The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
After both of them were on campus as a Long Beach State coach for more than 30 years, women’s tennis coach Jenny Hilt-Costello and track and field coach Andy Sythe are retiring after this year.
Hilt-Costello will leave the Beach as the winningest coach in program history with 414 career victories as of this week to go with 22 Big West Titles. She is listed among the Top 50 Division I Head Coaches for most active and most career wins in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Her winning percentage of .678 is a LBSU record as are her 22 single season wins. Under her tutelage, Beach Tennis has accumulated more overall victories and more conference wins than any other program in The Big West.
“Jenny has dedicated her professional life to the LBSU women’s tennis program, and she leaves behind a legacy of championship success on and off the court while utilizing her established core values of ethics, respect, and responsibility to mentor her student-athletes for life-long achievement,” LBSU athletic director Bobby Smitheran said.
LBSUs conference final appearances (16, including 15 consecutive seasons from 2001-15), conference tournament championships (13), NCAA Tournament berths (13), and NCAA Tournament victories (3) were all program firsts under Hilt-Costello. She was also a league-record nine-time Big West Coach of the Year and West Region Coach of the Year in 2004.
“I am very proud of everything Beach Tennis has accomplished, both on and off the court,” Hilt-Costello said. “I am eternally grateful for our incredible Beach Tennis boosters who personally have enabled our program to successfully compete on a national level for decades. At the same time, their support has provided our student-athletes with great experiences around the country. I have enjoyed my time at Long Beach State and I love this community.”
Sythe has been the LBSU Director of Track and Field after developing excellence in competition and creating the state-of-the-art track and field facility.
“I feel truly blessed to have started and completed my career at this remarkable place I proudly call home,” Sythe said. “Long Beach State has been an incredible support system for me and my family, dating back to the beginning of my journey. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to serve under five university presidents and nine athletic directors, each bringing their unique perspectives and playing a vital role in advancing our sport. This university, along with the sports of track and field and cross country, holds tremendous potential for growth, and I’ve been honored to dedicate my life to their success.”
Sythe was named Big West Track and Field Coach of the Year 11 times, guided the program to eight Big West Men’s Track and Field Championships and three Women’s Championships, and coached his student-athletes to 77 All-America honors, 32 conference Athlete of the Year awards, and 24 Track or Field Athlete of the Year accolades. In 2024, his program achieved a historic milestone by sweeping the MPSF Indoor Championships.
“Over 35 years, Coach Sythe has shaped The Beach track and field program through his tireless dedication to the sport, unwavering commitment to doing things the right way, and deep compassion for those around him,” Smitheran added. “He has mentored countless assistant coaches and developed thousands of student-athletes into successful young men and women. His career at Long Beach State University has been one of championship success at both the conference and national level, and his student-athletes have excelled in the classroom and contributed to the Long Beach community. His selfless impact on the track and field community will be felt for decades. We look forward to celebrating his achievements through the 2025 track and field season culminating with the Big West Conference championships hosted by The Beach.”
Sythe’s student-athletes have rewritten the record books, holding 33 of 34 school records in indoor track and field, 18 men’s outdoor records, and 15 women’s outdoor records. His dedication to academic excellence is equally impressive, with 603 student-athletes earning Academic All-Conference recognition and 57 teams receiving USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
Sythe has also served on committees with USA Track & Field and the USTFCCCA, held leadership roles in the Southern California Association of USATF, and coached at prestigious events like the United States Olympic Festival.
“The hardest part of this next chapter will undoubtedly be stepping away from the daily interactions with our incredible student-athletes,” Sythe said. “I’ve been blessed to work with so many remarkable individuals and teams throughout my time here. Each athlete brings their unique personality and energy, making every day and every season a rewarding experience. I’m excited to be present for my daughter Callie’s final year of high school, my oldest daughter Sierra’s college athletic journey, and my amazing wife Maribeth’s many plans for us. It’s time for me to give back to her for all the support she has given me over the years.”
