April 24, 2008
Former Texas A&M men?â„¢s tennis coach David Kent will be honored on Friday, April 25, in a dedication ceremony which will unveil the newly-remodeled courtyard named in his honor at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center, site of the 2008 Big 12 Conference Tennis Championships.
The ceremony will take place between the A&M men?â„¢s and women?â„¢s Big 12 quarterfinal matches at the Mitchell Tennis Center at approximately 5 p.m. Kent will be joined by his wife, Eileen, along with their children, grandchildren, former players, university officials and local politicians.
Kent enjoyed a successful coaching career in Aggieland from 1979-96 and remains the all-time winningest coach in school history as he posted an impressive 316-161 record at Texas A&M in 18 seasons. He coached 21 Southwest Conference individual champions, 18 NCAA qualifiers, three All-Americans and a SWC Championship team in 1994. Kent garnered SWC and Southwest Region Coach of the Year honors in 1994. His 1985 squad and 1994 squad, tabbed as the ?Wonder Team? reached the NCAA Team Championships and Sweet 16.
Known nationally as a ?Builder of Champions? evidenced by his won-loss records, numerous championships, induction into seven Hall of Fames and a myriad of tennis accomplishments, those who played for Kent realize that his greatest accomplishment was due to his role as a ?Builder of Character.?
?It is just a great tribute to a man whose work has impacted the university and community,? said Texas A&M women?â„¢s tennis coach Bobby Kleinecke who played for Kent at West Texas A&M from 1975-78. ?As a player, a fellow coach and now a friend, I know how much he bleeds Maroon and how much he cares about Texas A&M and the tennis programs. I?â„¢ve seen him get inducted into Hall of Fames, but this is something he is taking to heart more and it is such an honor to be able to do this for him. The David A. Kent Courtyard will be a permanent reminder of the lasting impression he has made on all of the lives he has so positively influenced over the years.?
Kent ranks among the top 20 all-time NCAA Division I men?â„¢s tennis coaches in career victories as he compiled a 516-223 overall record at A&M and West Texas A&M (formerly West Texas State) combined over 27 seasons. He served as the head coach of the Canyon, Texas-based system school from 1969-78. At the time of his retirement in 1996, Kent became only the ninth all-time Division I coach to record 500 career victories.
?Coach Kent has been a longtime ambassador for Texas A&M Tennis,? said current Texas A&M men?â„¢s tennis coach Steve Denton who played against Kent?â„¢s Aggies as an All-American at rival Texas. ?This is such a great tribute to a coach that many of us have admired in the tennis world. Coach Kent loves A&M and continues to come out to support us. I know he is very excited to have his name associated with the facility for years to come. He has made such a major contribution to the success of A&M Tennis and we are forever grateful.?
Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Kent is a 1958 graduate of Texas Tech and previously coached at Amarillo High School from 1958-60 and Midland High School from 1960-69 prior to joining the collegiate ranks. He currently serves as the chairman of the Brazos County Republican Party and is active in the Bryan-College Station community. Kent is a member of seven hall of fames including the ITA Hall of Fame, Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame and the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame.
?It?â„¢s really overwhelming to receive an honor like this,? Kent said. ?It?â„¢s the best thing that?â„¢s ever happened to me. I was at Texas A&M for 18 great years, and I have so many people I need to thank, starting with my wife, my family, my former players, coaches and the administration. Texas A&M was a great place to teach and coach, and I was so blessed to get the opportunity.?
He mentioned that it was gratifying that two of his former players are coaching at A&M ?- Kleinecke and current women?â„¢s assistant coach Mark Weaver, a four-year A&M letterwinner who played for Kent from 1990-94.
?I was a much better coach when I had better players,? he joked. ?(All-American) Grant Connell and those guys were just incredible players and competitors, and you had to be to be successful in the Southwest Conference. When I look back on my years at Texas A&M, I remember lots of good teams, good players and good students.?
Asked if he planned a return to coaching like his former coaching rival Bob McKinley, Kent said, ?Thirty-eight years of coaching is enough for me. Politics keeps me busy now, but Eileen and I love to go out to the tennis center and watch Aggie Tennis. It?â„¢s very exciting and we enjoy watching.?
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH KENT
?Coach Kent is a Hall of Famer which is rightfully so and he?â„¢s been a mentor to me over the years. I?â„¢ve been in coaching for 21 years and he is the first and only coach I?â„¢ve called for advice. He?â„¢s always been honest and upfront with me. He?â„¢s been my best friend and someone I look up to. He?â„¢s brought a lot to the game of tennis and he?â„¢s done a whole lot for Texas A&M. I know what the men?â„¢s tennis program was like before he arrived and I know what it?â„¢s like once he left. Friday?â„¢s dedication is a great thing for the university and Coach Kent.? ?- Oklahoma men?â„¢s tennis coach and former OU player Paul Lockwood
?Coach Kent has just been a great role model. He?â„¢s been like a father figure to me as well as one of my best friends. Coach Kent is one of the main reasons why I chose A&M and he built us into men here. They could not have picked a better person to name it after.? ?- Texas A&M women?â„¢s tennis assistant coach and former player Mark Weaver
?Coach Kent was a great coach and he is even a better person. He always put his players first in everything he did. He took care of all of the people around him the same way. Even when I was starting out as a student assistant, he treated me like an important part of his program and I appreciate that until this day.? ?- Texas A&M assistant media relations director and former men?â„¢s tennis SID Brad Marquardt