Former Men’s Tennis Coach Steve Wilkinson Inducted Into United States Professional Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame

Release courtesy of uspta.com – Originally published on Thursday, Oct. 3. 

ORLANDO – Nick Bollettieri, Vic Braden and Steve Wilkinson joined the ranks of only 13 others when they were inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame on Sept. 27 at the USPTA World Conference during the annual awards presentation at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando.

“I cannot think of three other tennis-teaching giants who deserve this recognition more than Nick, Vic and Steve,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “In their own individual ways they have contributed mightily to our mission of elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the country and around the world.”

The USPTA Hall of Fame serves as a place to honor excellence in the tennis profession and commitment to USPTA, the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. During the association’s April Executive Committee meeting, the USPTA Board and Executive Committee voted unanimously to rename the Hall of Fame Award in honor of the late Tim Heckler, who served as the CEO of the USPTA for 30 years from 1982-2012.

Bollettieri of Bradenton, Fla., has been one of the most influential people in tennis. A year after becoming a USPTA member, he founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now known as IMG Academy) in Florida in 1978, which was the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on court with custom-designed academic curriculum. His approach led to 10 No. 1 players in the world: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic, Marcelo Rios, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams.

Braden has impacted tennis as a player, teaching professional and broadcaster. He is the founder/director of the Vic Braden Tennis College in Coto de Caza, Calif., co-founder of Vic Braden Tennis College at Star Island Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., and co-founder of Vic Braden Tennis College in St. George, Utah. He and Jack Kramer co-founded the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in Palos Verdes, Calif. Since joining the USPTA in 1984, he has authored numerous books including “Tennis for the Future,” “Teaching Children Tennis the Vic Braden Way,” “Quick Fixes” and “Mental Tennis.” As a professional player, he was invited to play in the World Tennis Championships three times.

Wilkinson of Saint Peter, Minn., was the head men’s coach at Gustavus Adolphus College for 39 years from 1971-2009 and is the winningest coach in the history of men’s collegiate tennis with 923 victories. He has coached 46 players to 87 all-American honors (including current ATP tour player Eric Butorac). He founded the Tennis and Life clinics/camps more than 25 years ago and has dedicated his time and effort to improving tennis performance of youth and adults while teaching life lessons that can be used off the court. He has been a USPTA member since 1972.

Steve Wilkinson’s Bio

With 39 years at the helm of the Gustavus Adolphus College’s men’s tennis program in St. Peter, Steve Wilkinson surely touched many lives. He was the head men’s tennis coach from 1971-2009 and retired from the school as the winningest coach in the history of men’s collegiate tennis with 923 victories.

Wilkinson’s squads won two NCAA Division III titles (1980 and 1982) as well as 35 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. In addition, his players claimed six national doubles titles, and four national singles titles. He coached 46 players to 87 ITA All-America honors (including current ATP tour player Eric Butorac), 103 players to 226 All-Conference honors, and five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Wilkinson has also played a key role in the fundraising and construction of the Gustavus Adolphus College’s tennis facilities, which are considered to be among the finest in the nation.

The former coach has been involved in numerous national tennis organizations, having served on the executive committees of the USPTA, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the USTA. He was inducted into the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame in 1974, the Northern Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 1983 and the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame in 1999.

In addition to his coaching abilities, Wilkinson was also an outstanding player in his own right. He played collegiate tennis at the University of Iowa where he finished second at the No. 1 doubles position at the Big Ten Conference Championships his senior season.

After college, Wilkinson played competitive tennis for many years and was ranked No. 1 in the United States in the 45, 50, 55 and 60-and-over divisions. He has represented the United States in the Dubler Cup, Perry Cup and Austria Cup competitions, winning the world championship in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1989 and finishing second in Berlin, Germany, in 1992.

The former coach, along with his wife, Barbara, founded the Tennis and Life Camps, considered to be among the finest tennis camps in the country. For more than 35 years, the couple dedicated their time and effort to improving tennis performance of youth and adults while teaching life lessons that can be used off the court.

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