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LUBBOCK - After more than 20 years of walking the sidelines and baselines at Texas Tech University, head men’s tennis coach Tim Siegel will retire effective at the end of this season, announced Kirby Hocutt, director of athletics.
“I congratulate Tim Siegel for a tremendous and successful coaching career,” said Hocutt. “His positive impact and influence on hundreds of student-athletes has been exceptional. Tim’s leadership role within the department and with Texas Tech Tennis has been exemplary and highlighted by his role in building The Don and Ethel McLeod Tennis Center, which ranks as one of the finest facilities in the Big 12 Conference.”
His teams have earned the distinction of being ranked for 19 consecutive years, including in the top 25 for six of the last eight seasons.
“The last 20-plus years have been incredible,” said Siegel. “I want to thank all of my players, my assistant coaches and every Texas Tech administrator who has helped me along the way. I want to thank T. Jones for hiring me in December of 1992.
“I sincerely appreciate every player who has played for me and played for our great university. I have always wanted to make sure that I made an impact in each of my players’ lives and helped them prepare for life after college both on and off the court. Getting a degree from Texas Tech has always been the most important thing. No one loves Texas Tech more than I and I have truly been blessed these last 20 years. I look forward to finishing my career as coach this spring.”
In his 21st season as the head coach at Texas Tech, Tim Siegel has turned the Red Raider Tennis program into a perennial contender – both the Big 12 Conference and the nation.
“We have great coaches and great people here at Texas Tech and an incredibly talented administration led by Kirby Hocutt,” said Siegel “I am the biggest sports fan in the world and the biggest Texas Tech sports fan there is and I am excited about the future of Texas Tech.”
A three-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year and two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year recipient, Siegel has compiled a 283-213 (57.1 percent) record as the men’s head coach at Texas Tech, while leading the Red Raiders to the NCAA Championships 12 times in his tenure. Along with his success on the courts, the Red Raiders have maintained a team GPA above 3.0 in each season since 1999, earning numerous academic honors in the process.
Including his two-year stint at SMU (1991-92), where he went 28-23 as the head coach of the Lady Mustangs and his two-year tenure as the head coach of the Lady Raiders (1997-98), where he went 22-22, Siegel has a career record of 333-258 (56.3 percent) over 24 seasons.
While directing the Lady Raiders, Siegel produced four All-Big 12 performers and 13 Academic All-Big 12 performers. He also coached the 1998 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and ITA Rookie of the Year in Zana Zlebnik. He also became the first coach to lead the Lady Raiders into the ITA rankings finishing in the Top 75 during both seasons at the helm of the program.
In 2012, Texas Tech advanced to its sixth straight postseason appearance as the Red Raiders finished the year with a 16-9 record and a No. 23 national ranking. Siegel’s Red Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Berkeley, Calif., and saw Gonzalo Escobar and Raony Carvalho advance to the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championships. The duo earned All-America honors and were selected to the ITA All-Star team. A conference record six players earned selection to the Academic All-Big 12 squad.
His efforts also saw the Red Raiders draw the second largest crowd to a tennis match in the nation in 2012, when 1,047 fans packed the stands to watch Texas Tech upset No. 15 Texas, 4-3, on Apr. 7. For the season, Texas Tech ranked fifth nationally in attendance.
Since joining the Big 12, Siegel’s players has helped Texas Tech produce four All-America honors, five Academic All-America honors, 12 ITA Scholar-Athletes, 33 All-Conference honors, 47 Academic All-Conference honors and 16 position champions.
He has won at least 15 matches in a season six times, including four of the last five years. Siegel has had three teams reach the 20-win plateau – 2005 (25-4), 2008 (20-6) and 2010 (22-6). The 2005 team reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
A native of New Orleans, Siegel played tennis collegiately at the University of Arkansas, where he also earned a degree in journalism in 1986. During his four-year career, Siegel was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Southwest Conference singles champion.
Following his time as a Razorback, Siegel went on to play professionally and reached a top 100 world ranking in doubles. Teamed with Jimmy Arias, Siegel reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Clay Court Championships and was a semifinalists in Brisbane, Bologna and Florance. Siegel also reached the third round of doubles at the U.S. Open, Australian Open and the second round of Wimbledon. Siegel’s professional tenure included wins over John Lloyd-Paul NcNamee, Ivan Lendl-Bill Scanion, and Yannick Noah-Paul Annacone.
After completing eligibility at Arkansas, Siegel began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Razorbacks, while he continued to play professionally. Siegel then took his first head coaching job at SMU. Siegel has also worked as a coach on the professional level, guiding top players such as Joey Rive, Robert Seguso and Richey Reneberg.
Siegel and his wife, Jenny, have four children, daughters Alex, Kate, and Ellie, and son, Luke. Alex is enrolled at the Covenant School of Nursing. In addition to coaching, Siegel’s favorite hobby is being a dad to his four children. When he is not found at the courts, he spends his time with his loving wife and amazing kids.