LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky associate head men?s tennis coach Greg Van Emburgh, UK?s first four-time men?s tennis All-American, has been hired as the new head men?s tennis coach at Wisconsin, the university announced Thursday. Van Emburgh leaves Lexington after serving four seasons at his alma mater under coach Dennis Emery.
?The last four years at Kentucky have marked some of the greatest times of my life,? Van Emburgh said. ?I couldn?t have asked for a better situation here, having bled blue as a former player and being able to come back and use this as a transition to become a head coach.?
Kentucky finished in the top 15 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) team rankings with Van Emburgh on the coaching staff. The Cats reached the NCAA quarterfinals during Van Emburgh?s first season and were ranked as high as No. 4 during the season. Later that season under Van Emburgh?s tutelage, Jesse Witten became only the third freshman to make the NCAA singles-title match. UK finished the 2003 season at No. 15, 2004 at No. 14 and 2005 at No. 15.
?This is a tremendous opportunity for Greg,? Emery said. ?He has been a key part of our program for the last four years. I?m happy for him to have the chance to run his own program. It?s a great opportunity at Wisconsin to take the Badgers up the Big Ten (conference) standings.?
Van Emburgh excelled as a player at Kentucky from 1986-88. He became UK?s first men?s singles All-American in 1987 and teamed with Rich Benson that same season to reach the NCAA doubles semifinals and earn a doubles All-America selection. Van Emburgh earned singles and doubles All-America status during his senior season to become UK?s first four-time men?s tennis All-American. He played the ATP tour for 10 years and held a No. 28 ATP individual doubles ranking in 1993 and a No. 11 doubles team ranking with partner Shelby Cannon. Van Emburgh reached the Wimbledon doubles semifinals in 1990 with Stefan Kruger.
?The last four years under Coach Emery have been great,? Van Emburgh said. ?I learned a lot, and keeping the tradition here at UK has been a blast. The timing worked out just right. Wisconsin has unending potential. It?s a great school, and Madison is a great place to live. I am really excited about the opportunity for myself and my family. I want to thank the UK athletics department for being so supportive. I have been proud to be a part of UK athletics and what the department has accomplished. This is a bittersweet situation. I?m sad to leave Kentucky but excited to go to Wisconsin. The Kentucky athletics department has made tremendous strides, and I have been fortunate to be a part of it. ?
Van Emburgh joins several former Wildcats and UK assistant coaches under Emery who have become head coaches at major college tennis programs. Mario Rincon, who lettered in 1988 and 1989, now is the head men?s tennis coach at Miami (Fla.). Andy Jackson, a three-year letter winner in the early 1980s, led the Florida men to an SEC title this past season. Former graduate assistant Dwayne Hultquist led the Florida State men to the NCAA quarterfinals this season. Former assistant Michael Hegarty recently completed his second season as the head women?s coach at Arkansas. Also, former Cat Carlos Drada, a 2000 NCAA singles finalist, recently was named the ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year after helping lead the Kentucky women?s program to its first SEC title and a No. 2 national ranking.
Greg and his wife, Tracey, have two children, Jake and Jenson.
