May 13, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - In addition to having a record-setting year on the tennis court, the Texas A&M men's tennis team continues to receive honors as Aggie head coach Steve Denton was named the regional Texas Coach of the Year, Aggie assistant coach Bob McKinley was named regional Texas Assistant Coach of the Year and senior captain, Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American Austin Krajicek was named the regional Texas Senior of the Year by the International Tennis Association (ITA).
Denton, in his fifth season at the helm of the Aggie tennis program, has led A&M to five straight NCAA Championship appearances and the Aggies have reached the Round of 16 the past two seasons. The program has improved in the rankings every year from a No. 31 finish his first season, to No. 23 his second year, to No. 14 in his third season, and last year the team finished No. 10 in the final rankings. This year the team has spent the majority of the season in the country's Top 10 with a high ranking of No. 5. The Aggies recently won the 2011 Big 12 Championships held in Waco, the first men's title since the 2001 Aggie team turned the trick, and Denton was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year by his peers earlier this week. Denton has an overall record of 97-45 in his five seasons at Texas A&M.
“Steve continues to do an outstanding job with our men's tennis program,” Director of Athletics Bill Byrne said. “As a tennis player, Steve competed at the highest level and now as a head coach he continues to do a great job of developing players here in Aggieland.”
Bob McKinley, already a member of the ITA Hall of Fame, is also in his fifth year at Texas A&M serving as an assistant coach on Steve Denton's staff. McKinley served as the head coach at Trinity University from 1974-84 reaching the NCAA Finals in 1977 and 1979. He has coached an individual champion as well as an NCAA doubles champion tandem. McKinley had served as the Director of John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels before joining Denton on the Aggie staff. In his playing days at Trinity, he helped lead Trinity to the 1972 NCAA Championship and he reached the Round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1973 and reached the doubles semifinals at the U.S. Open in 1972.
“Bob is a living legend in our sport and is respected by all who have come into contact with him,” Denton said. “He is the only person that is already in the Tennis Hall of Fame as a player, as well as a coach. Bob is a major reason why Texas A&M tennis has ascended to national prominence. His work ethic, his passion and his high standard for all of his players sets him apart.”
Conor Pollock to reach the semifinals in the NCAA Doubles Championships. Recently Krajicek was named the 2011 Texas A&M Male Distinguished Letterman of the Year for his work on and off of the tennis courts. Krajicek brings a seven-match winning streak into NCAA Championship play in singles. He and his doubles partner, Jeff Dadamo, have won four straight matches entering NCAA play and are ranked No. 4 in the land.
“Austin has been the face of Aggie tennis over the past four years,” Denton said. “He loves the game with every fiber of his being. It has been a true pleasure to be his coach. He represents everything that is good about college sports. The desire to be your best, each and every day, and to put the work into getting better, to be a fierce competitor with great sportsmanship qualities describes Austin Krajicek.”