Finally some good news on the men’s tennis front – Arizona State is bringing back its men’s tennis program .
Here is the full release from ASU which you can also read below and here was the video of the press conference.
TEMPE, Ariz. After an eight-year hiatus, Sun Devil Athletics announced the reinstatement of the men’s tennis program at Arizona State. Through a lead gift of $1M by Buffie and Ray Anderson, Vice President for University Athletics, ASU will now field a total of 26 NCAA varsity sports.
“ASU student athletes exemplify the University’s commitment to access, excellence and impact, and the addition of men’s tennis will extend the opportunity to compete as Sun Devils to a new group of young athletes, said ASU President Michael Crow. “The investment that Ray and Buffie are making in the program further demonstrates their commitment to the institution, and to the community.
Last month ASU announced its alliance with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), which served as a precursor to formally reinstating the men’s tennis program.
“I am so pleased that Buffie and I can personally support opportunities for our student-athletes, Anderson said. “In my time here, and as I have learned about the history of the program, I have come to understand how much the sport of men’s tennis means to the community. Finding a way to reinstate the men’s tennis program was a passion for Buffie and myself. ASU’s alliance with the ITA was the perfect precursor to reenergize the tennis community in the Valley, and bring back men’s tennis to Arizona State.
Also contributing to the revival of men’s tennis is apparel partner adidas, whose contract with Arizona State provided support for the addition of future sporting programs.
“The game of tennis is international and is reflective of adidas’ global footprint, Mark King, president of adidas group North America said. “Along with Arizona State and its new alliance with the ITA, adidas saw the reinstatement of the ASU men’s tennis program as, not only an opportunity to impact the game of collegiate tennis, but expand opportunities within the sport and impact a diverse community of athletes.”
In total, Arizona State has raised $5M to support upstart of the program, with a goal of $10M total needed to sustain the addition of men’s tennis. Sun Devil Athletics has launched a campaign, today, to raise the remaining $5M needed to fully support the men’s tennis program. Individuals interested in playing a part in the reinstatement of men’s tennis and contributing to the program can CLICK HERE to give.
Nationally there are 52 D1-Power Five schools that sponsor men’s tennis and 93 NCAA D1-FBS men’s tennis programs. Previously, ASU was one of four Pac-12 schools along with Colorado, Oregon State, and Washington State, to not field a men’s tennis team.
“The return of Arizona State men’s tennis elevates Arizona State, Sun Devil Athletics and our women’s tennis program, said women’s tennis head coach Shelia McInerney. “Reviving the men’s team will reestablish the amazing sense of camaraderie we previously experienced competing alongside each other for decades. Beyond creating lasting bonds and friendships, the level of competition of the men’s team elevates and drives the performance of our female student-athletes. Perennially the top-15, top-10 teams in the nation field both men and women’s programs and that is no coincidence. I could not be more enthusiastic, as a coach and a life-long Sun Devil, of the prospect of returning the NCAA men’s program to the Valley.
Arizona State has added four new programs over the last 18 months. In addition to men’s tennis, Arizona State elevated its National Championship-winning club ice hockey team to NCAA-status, and added women’s lacrosse and the emerging sport of women’s triathlon.
ASU previously sponsored men’s tennis from 1902-2008, making it the second-oldest sport on campus, following only football (1897). In 2008, citing budget cuts, Arizona State dropped men’s tennis, wrestling and men’s swimming from its roster of NCAA sports. With donor support, wrestling and men’s swimming were reinstated that year, however men’s tennis was sidelined as an NCAA sport.
With 18 top-five conference finishes and six top-25 national finishes, the Arizona State men’s tennis team was a formidable opponent in the former Pac-10 Conference. In 1995 Sargis Sargsian rewrote the tennis record books to become the first Sun Devil to win the NCAA Singles Title. The three-set win over USC’s Brett Hansen gave Sargsian the individual national championship, and earned him the title of NCAA Player of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year, All-American honors and the top singles ranking in the country. In all, 10 student-athletes earned 14 All-American honors and long-time head coach Lou Belken was named Pac-10 Coach of the year in 1999 and 2008.
Following approval from the Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State will begin the search to identify and hire a new head coach for the men’s tennis program.
Makes sense for sure. I would think, like you said prior that they would be targeting the same coaches as Arizona. ASU does like to aim high though. Should be an interesting couple of weeks in the coaching world for the southwest specifically. Both Arizona and ASU have a great opportunity to jump start their programs.
Yes, just strictly my gut – to make that kind of commitment to restarting the program I would think they would have made inquiries to coaches before proceeding forward. I know they are wanting to raise another $5M too so you'd think they'd want to have a face of the program to put out there. <br /><br />If they don't announce someone during the NCAAs or within a few days after the NCAAs then I guess my gut was leading me astray.
This is just your gut feeling?
This is just my opinion w/o any inside info but I think ASU already has its new coach lined up and is maybe waiting until after the NCAAs to make an announcement – possibly a current coach from a school competing at the NCAAs.
Tom Lloyd at Loyola Marymount is a former Arizona grad and assistant so I'd think he'd be fairly high on the list. Berkowitz was only making in the low $70s after 12 years so I'm guessing the new coach won't make any more than that.
I'm not sure Bryan Shelton would leave Florida for ASU – he's got a pretty good thing in Gainesville and I don't see how he'd win any bigger in the Pac-12 than he could in the SEC. Now if they back up the Brinks truck to his house and offer him a huge salary then that might be a different story.
would Arizona State consider hiring Max Shelton from Florida as their new coach?
Added a giant women's Lacrosse team and a triathalon team so they could bring back 10 guys for tennis. Pathetic Title 9 needs to be abolished, with all this gender equality these days, can't women make and justify their own way for a change? Isn't Title 9 an insult to their so called equality in 2016?
ASU is a party school right? Have a Party!
Top choices for Arizona job are??
This is going to hurt Utah. They will not have a travel partner and will now be how Arizona was when ASU was cut. They now will get to play a fresh pac-12 team on each conference weekend….home and away. Great for college tennis, pac12, the region and one of the oldest rivalries, in which Arizona is leading….the ripple is going to travel pretty far. Hopefully both schools hire the right person for each job. Huge potential at both spots.
Actually, its a good possibility that it will help Arizona. If you look at when Arizona's program started really struggling, it might not be just a coincidence it happened when ASU disappeared. It's very difficult for Arizona to get anyone of any quality to play them at home now, with no other major school within any reasonable travelling distance (other than what the Pac-12 schedule mandates)…
It says in the press release above that they've also added women's lacrosse and women's triathalon in the last 18 months in addition to re-starting men's tennis.
I thought I either read something or maybe it was in the press conference that mentions they were tightening up a few other sports to allow for tennis to return – so maybe they trimmed a 1/2 scholly or something from several other sports.
Very few schools are expanding men's sports. How did they do it without violating Title 9?
Really cool to see, Arizona State should have a mens team….I would hope Colorado would as well at some point, they have a tradition of mens tennis before they canned it
Haven't heard anything else though it's be great if Colorado would be No. 10 – I guess they'll have to find their big money donor to kickstart things. <br /><br />I'd think ASU would target some of the same candidates as Arizona though you'd think they'd be looking to make a splash on the hire to further generate even more buzz. With the financial backing and the ITA right there you'd think it'd be an attractive job so maybe they go after someone that's not currently a college coach but maybe a former pro who is coaching a current pro. I know Darren Cahill had ties to Adidas's player development program until the program dissolved last year so wouldn't that be interesting if ASU could lure someone like him into the fray.
It definitely won't help – both will be looking for a coach at the same time unless Arizona has already locked in on its choice.
This is going to hurt Arizona
I imagine based on the financial commitments made to bring this program back, they do not want to be a mediocre program. Top 15 program in the coming years is my guess
Great news. Bobby have you heard anything about a 10th team being added to Pac 12 men's tennis, to make it even? Also, who do you see as potential head coaching hires?