Gator John
New User
Longtime Gator fan here. Hoping the new coaching search will bring in a new era for Gator tennis!
Any news on the search?
Any news on the search?
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Satsuma Illini
Semi-Pro
Read on Gator Country that the word on the street is Pepperdine's Adam Steinberg. It sure is taking a lot more time than I thought it would though. Wonder what the hold up is? Lots of candidates lined up at the door?
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
4 solid candidates with solid resumes, one that stands out to me. I would assume that an offer will go out today and details finalized by this weekend. New guy should be in place by early next week.
Gatorluver
New User
Can you tell us the four candidates? Any idea where Jackson will go? I was hoping Spencer would stay with the coaching change but he's visiting Michigan this week and likes it so far-damn it.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
It's not fair to the candidates or their current teams to name names. I've never been into that.
Sucks about spencer, but if you are in contact with him...tell him to at least meet with the new coach. If my preferred candidate gets selected, he would probably like the opportunity to work with him. And once the announcement is official, I will confirm whether it is whom I am in favor of.
I have no word on Jackson. I'd think he'd go to a lower level school or maybe jump over to the women's side. I wish him the best as I do really like him personally.
Gatorluver
New User
Fair enough on the new coach and I will try to get a message to Spencer. He's a smart kid and I know he liked Gainesville and his teammates alot, so he will probably hold off on making a final desicion until a new coach is announced.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Tell him to stay, my candidate was leaving campus with a big smile on his face. From what I understand an agreement was made verbally and a contract is being drafted. Should be in Gainesville full time in the next couple weeks.
cali_tennis_machine
New User
Current college coach or are they looking elsewhere?
Gatorluver
New User
Brian Shelton is the new coach according to the boys on the team. Anyone know anything about him?
Bryan (not Brian) Shelton is a very good coach for the Georgia Tech women, including a national title a few years ago. Much tougher recruiting situation for him in his current job than he would have in the Florida men's job, if this rumor is true.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Really? Didn't know he was a candidate. Good pick up.
Played college tennis at Georgia Tech.
Former tour player. Played 8-9 years. 2 ATP singles titles, 2 doubles titles. 4th Round Wimbledon was his best Slam performance. High Rank of 55.
Has been the womens coach at Georgia Tech and won a national title in 2007 -- GT was basically nothing before he came. In addition to the national title, has maintained GT as a solid program, always in the Top 25, often higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Shelton
Played college tennis at Georgia Tech.
Former tour player. Played 8-9 years. 2 ATP singles titles, 2 doubles titles. 4th Round Wimbledon was his best Slam performance. High Rank of 55.
Has been the womens coach at Georgia Tech and won a national title in 2007 -- GT was basically nothing before he came. In addition to the national title, has maintained GT as a solid program, always in the Top 25, often higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Shelton
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Bryan Shelton is the is head women's coach at Georgia Tech.
Gatorluver
New User
Oppps sorry I just googled him-Bryan Shelton. He looks like a player and I really like that NCAA title!
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
He's taken a team that never won an NCAA Tourney match to win a title a few years later. And he took a player to the individual title that was a pretty solid under dog. That's why I've been telling you to have Spencer talk to him. This guy is good!
He has coached college, USTA HP, and toured with pros like Mali Vai Washington. He has done everything at GT with very tough academic avenues to offer women (engineering or management).
And he and Roland are going to be perfect compliments to one another...especially now that Roland doesn't have to recruit against the guy that just locked down the top recruiting class in the country.
The only concern is how he will handle going from 8 full schollys to divvying up 4.5.
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Gatorluver
New User
That has to be tough coming from the women's side. I like everything I read about him so far. He does seem to have quite a few foreign players on his GT roster, and you know I favor Florida kids on our rosters! I hope he takes advatage of the local talent in the upcoming years.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
haha, yea currently that is true. Look at his incoming class though:
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/052912aab.html
All are Americans and 2 from in-state.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Seemingly an odd time to leave with that excellent class coming in, but I understand that people want to move on to different challenges, and Florida men and the SEC is quite a different challenge. He's won a national championship at GT, coached an NCAA champion, and he's leaving the program in great shape with that class. So, maybe it's not a bad time to leave.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
He probably would like to coach mens tennis now.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Release is official: http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=23283
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Nice how the Florida womens coach recommended Shelton.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Wouldn't you ask the 3-time national champion coach his input on the other team's coach?
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Absolutely. I'm glad that the AD was smart enough to ask.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Yea, Jeremy Foley is fairly well known for being smart
Art Rust Jr
Rookie
Classy guy. I suspect he'll be very successful in Gainesville. He learned from one of the best. Bill Tym, the old Vandy coach, was his coach when he was a junior. Lots of knowledge there.
TopDawg
G.O.A.T.
So was Shelton the one you were referring to?
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Absolutely!!!
Satsuma Illini
Semi-Pro
From what I've seen, Shelton is not hard to like. It seems like I remember him playing Jimmy Connors at the US Open way back when.
Gatorluver
New User
Okay- now I like EVERYTHING about him. Heard a couple of the guys on the team met him already and really like him.
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Yea, I think that what will be crucial for him is:
1) lock down the state of Florida every year by getting the top 1 or 2 players to commit
2) supplement the roster with other southeast kids before looking abroad
3) prove that he can develop guys as well as he did with females like Miller, McDowell, O'Neil and Falconi
4) consistently finish top 2 in the SEC and be a national contender every year
I think he can do this within 5 years
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Is No. 1 on your list really possible? (I'm asking seriously, not being snarky). Florida is a true "tennis state" and whoever is No. 1 and 2. coming out of the state each year will have multiple offers from top programs. While in-state talent often is attracted to their home state's university, there are always the kids who want to get away or who are mesmerized by one of the elite programs.
Obviously, that shouldn't change the goal of getting the top 1 or 2 players, and even if it doesn't happen every year, it still might happen often enough. Furthermore, if Florida does have success relatively quickly and consistently, that could obviously change the recuriting dynamic as it becomes an even more attractive destination.
I've always wondered why Florida, while a very good program, hasn't been able to get to that next level. Great recruiting base, great weather, great facilities, and even though the first thing I think of when I think of the University of Florida is football and sports in general, it's actually a very, very good school (with a nice campus to boot).
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floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
^^^bluetrain, your 3rd paragraph is why #1 is possible.
I'm not saying that it's easy, but it should be much more common. Every year might be a stretch, but if it happens consistently then success will breed more success.
Schnellenberger did this at Miami in the 80s for football. Different dynamic, but a good model.
I'm not saying that it's easy, but it should be much more common. Every year might be a stretch, but if it happens consistently then success will breed more success.
Schnellenberger did this at Miami in the 80s for football. Different dynamic, but a good model.
Gatorluver
New User
cali_tennis_machine
New User
Bryan can coach and do a lot with the talent they already have.. I'm saying National Title within 4 years
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
Not the greatest news here....
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/062212aaa.html
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/062212aaa.html
I think Spencer had his mind made up that he was leaving long before Coach Sheldon was in the picture. Once a player decides that he doesn't want to be on a certain team anymore it is hard to change their mind.
Gatorluver
New User
Thanks much.
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floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
At this point he is probably looking at players 2+ years down the road. Can't work with the guys until they are back in the fall.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
Florent Diep qualified for a french future and won 1 round.
There's some stuff out there that doesn't get out it seems.
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Gatorluver
New User
Shelton hired Amer Delic as his assistant coach. I'm thrilled and so are the boys on the team. Thoughts? Comments?
floridatennisdude
Hall of Fame
I like Delic as a player. Didn't realize he was throwing in the towel on his playing days, but I guess the timing makes sense. Eager to learn more about the hire...can't find info on it anywhere.
