Release courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
TEMPE, AZ – Former Johns Hopkins men's tennis coach Chuck Willenborg and assistant coach Michael Vann have been honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) after the Blue Jays' historic season. Willenborg has been named the ITA Atlantic South Coach of the Year while Vann was tabbed the Assistant Coach of the Year.
Willenborg earns regional coach of the year honors for the second time in his career at Homewood, as he also did so in 2013. This is Vann's first assistant coach of the year honor. The duo led Hopkins to an 11-1 record, including 7-0 in the Centennial Conference (CC), in the COVID-shortened 2021 season. Hopkins won its 15th overall, and 14th consecutive, CC title and made its 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance this season.
Hopkins defeated host NC Wesleyan, 5-3, to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history. JHU then turned in a stunning come-from-behind victory in the quarterfinals to make the program's first trip to the national semifinals. Trailing 4-0, the Blue Jays won five straight singles matches to defeat the Ephs of Williams. Hopkins then fell to eventual national champion, Emory, in the semifinals. The loss was the Jays' first of the season and snapped a 14-match win streak. In fact, it was Hopkins' first loss since May 11, 2019 – a stretch of 745 days.
Willenborg stepped down after the season as the winningest coach in program history. During his 17-year tenure in Baltimore, Hopkins went 278-74 (.789) overall and 136-3 (.978) in CC play. He coached a combined 38 ITA All-Americans, including Vishnu Joshi, who earned the honor for singles in 2021.