Bollettieri selected for ITA Hall of Fame

Jim Stennett

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association proudly announced the 2017 ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame induction class on Tuesday, with contributor Nick Bollettieri (Spring Hill College), players James Blake (Harvard University) and Matias Boeker (University of Georgia) joining coaches Francis Baxter (University of Central Oklahoma men 1970-2006 and women 1980-2006) and Bill Otta (Saddlebrook College 1975-2000) comprising the five-person class.

"On behalf of the ITA, I am thrilled that this distinguished class will be entering the ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame," Timothy Russell, ITA Chief Executive Officer and 2015 ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame inductee said. "The five inductees showcase the very best of the breadth and depth of college tennis, an incredible array of talent, dedication, and commitment to our sport. I am looking forward to the 2017 induction ceremony in Athens, home of the ITA Collegiate Tennis Men's Hall of Fame, and this year's NCAA Division I Championships."

The 2017 ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Men's Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet will be held on Thursday, May 25, at the Georgia Center during the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Championships, May 18-29, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

"This is a very accomplished and interesting class of 2017 and we're very excited about adding all five members to the Hall of Fame," John Frierson, curator of the ITA Collegiate Tennis Men's Hall of Fame. "We're inducting two exceptional players, two very successful coaches from the Division II, NAIA and Junior College divisions, and another individual in Nick Bollettieri that would surely be on the Mount Rushmore of greatest and most important tennis coaches of all time.

Bollettieri's contributions to the sport are countless, though we might begin with his legendary tennis academy in Florida (founded in 1978) that has trained over 1,500 collegiate players and counting. The IMG Academy, formerly Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, was the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on the court with a custom-designed academic curriculum. Many of his former players went on to become ITA National Champions, including players like David Wheaton (Stanford) and Cecil Mammit (USC). His coaching protégées include over 25 former players who have gone on to become college coaches at various levels, including Carlos Drada (Kentucky women, 2006-present), Cedric Kauffman (Kentucky men, 2012-present) and Chris Garner (Amherst). He hosted the initial planning session of key ITA coaches in 1979 at The Colony in Longwood Key, Florida that led to the forming of the ITA Board of Directors. Following Rolex sponsorship of the ITA All-Star Awards Outing & Luncheon in 2002-2003 at the West Side Tennis Club, Bollettieri personally raised the necessary money that allowed the continuation of the luncheon. Bollettieri has also spoken at the ITA Coaches Convention almost every year since its inception.

The ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame is housed at the University of Georgia's Henry Field stadium in Athens. The late, legendary Georgia men's coach and Hall of Fame member Dan Magill served as curator and chairman of the Hall of Fame. The current curator is John Frierson. The ITA Men's Hall of Fame, which includes over 1,800 rare photos, inducted its first class in 1983 and has inducted more than 260 players, coaches and contributors since then. Players are eligible for election to the Hall of Fame 10 years after the conclusion of their participation on the team, and once they are no longer participating on the pro tour. Coaches are eligible immediately following retirement. The main criteria for election are college accomplishments as well as honors earned after college.

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow. As the governing body of college tennis, the ITA oversees men's and women's varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College divisions. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men's and women's varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court.

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