McKinley To Be Inducted Into USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame
Oct 15, 2007 | Men's Tennis
October 15, 2007
Texas A&M men?™s tennis assistant coach Bob McKinley is one of three members scheduled to be inducted into the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Missouri Valley Hall of Fame.
Growing up in the St. Louis area, McKinley became an ultra-successful junior, claiming Section titles in every age group despite growing up at roughly the same time as eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Jimmy Connors.
McKinley reached a No. 1 junior national ranking before shipping off to San Antonio, Texas, for Trinity University, where he would begin making a lasting mark in the school?™s tennis history, both as a player and coach. While at Trinity, McKinley was a four-time All-American from 1969-72 and helped the Tigers to three-straight NCAA Championship finals (1970-72) including an NCAA Team Championship in 1972. He also reached the NCAA doubles finals in 1971 with Dick Stockton.
McKinley made a stab at the pro tour, and reached Top 50 in the world in the ATP rankings including a Round of 16 Wimbledon appearance in 1972. He transitioned into a successful coaching tenure at his alma mater Trinity from 1975-84, producing 12 NCAA All-Americans which included an NCAA singles champion and NCAA doubles champions. Compiling an impressive 219-57 record at the school, his teams reached the NCAA Team Championship finals in both 1977 and 1979. He was honored as NCAA Men?™s Coach of the Year in 1977.
Prior to A&M, McKinley served as the Director of Tennis at the famed John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, Texas. He is a member of the St. Louis and Texas Tennis Hall of Fames as well as a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame. He holds the distinction of being the only current Division I tennis coach to be a member of the ITA Hall of Fame.
?This induction is very special to me, because it?™s where I grew up,? said McKinley who is in his second season with the Aggies. ?To be recognized for my junior accomplishments is such an honor and I look forward to the induction ceremony in December.?
The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8, as part of the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. Past USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame inductees include such luminaries as Dwight Davis, Earl ?Butch? Buchholz and Judy Levering.
