June 17, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kevin Calhoun has been named the assistant women’s tennis coach at the University of Kentucky, head coach Carlos Drada announced Thursday.
“I am thrilled that Kevin has joined our Kentucky family,” said Drada of the team’s new addition, “Kevin brings a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to our team at a very important juncture. His passion for the game and expertise will contribute greatly to our team’s success this upcoming season.”
For the past 10 years, Calhoun has served as the men’s and women’s head tennis coach at Georgetown College where he also spent his collegiate playing career. As a Tiger, he was named a four-time All-Conference player and has one of the top records in program history. Calhoun earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown in 1998.
With the Tigers, Calhoun racked up an overall record of 210-215; the women’s team owned an 119-97 tally while the men’s side held a 91-118 record during his tenure. Calhoun’s women’s teams have reached the Mid-South Conference (NAIA) Tournament finals every year since his arrival. For the past eight seasons, Calhoun has coached the women’s side to qualifying berths in the Region XI Tournament. He has led three teams to the NAIA Women’s National Tournament (2001, 2002, 2008) and two individuals to the ITA Small College National Tournament in 2005.
Calhoun led the men’s team to four consecutive Mid-South Conference Tournament finals (2006-2009) and winning the tournament in 2001 and 2004. Under Calhoun, the Tigers qualified for the Region XI men’s tournament four times.
This past year, the Tigers’ coach was named the ITA East Regional NAIA Women’s Coach of the Year. Calhoun has been honored three times as the Mid-South Conference Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2004 and was awarded the men’s honor in 2007. Also in 2007, he was recognized as the Kentucky Coach of the Year by the USTA.
“I am excited and humbled to become a part of the University of Kentucky women’s tennis tradition,” Calhoun said, “Coach Drada is an outstanding coach who will continue to develop some of the best tennis players in the country. While I will always be grateful to Georgetown College for the opportunity to develop as a coach and leader, I look forward to the challenge that waits for me at UK.”
While at Georgetown, Calhoun took great pride in his teams’ accomplishments both in the classroom and on the court. During the Calhoun era the Tigers have celebrated eight NAIA All-Americans and nine Academic All-Americans. His teams are three-time recipients of the NAIA Scholar Team Award.
Calhoun has reached top levels in tennis officiating as well as coaching. As a line judge for the ATP, WTA and USTA, he has been a part of such tournaments as Wimbledon, the US Open, Davis Cup and Fed Cup.
Calhoun is son to Mike and Sharon Calhoun. Mike serves as the director of alumni relations at his alma mater, Georgetown College, and previously worked as head men’s basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University. Kevin is husband to the former Alison Witt, also a Tiger graduate, and father to 2-year-old Hannah.
