Mission Statement
For student-athletes to thrive in a culture that promotes athletic, academic and personal excellence. Through teamwork, engagement, accountability and mental discipline, student-athletes will become strong leaders with the drive to achieve great things now and in the future. Each member of our team leaves the University of South Carolina with the experience and tools necessary to have a successful career in tennis and beyond.
Program on the Rise
South Carolina has finished in the ITA Top 25 every year since 2017, the longest such stretch in program history.
South Carolina reached the NCAA Championship Round of 16 in both 2021 and 2022.
The Gamecocks advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals in 2019 for the first time in 20 years. They repeated that finish in 2021.
Player Development
We create a Player Development Plan (PDP) for each individual outlining their strengths, weaknesses, game style and fitness level with short- and long-term goals.
G.R.I.T. Culture
The driving force behind South Carolina Men's Tennis' success is its culture. We rely on passion and perseverance over time to achieve our goals. Our GRIT Culture is based on growth, resiliency, intensity and toughness.
Growth
Coaches encourage players to focus on the long-term process of developing, rather than short-term results. Through Player Development Plans and strategic scheduling, players have the opportunity to develop specific areas of interest during practice and compete within a framework that best suits improvement.
Resiliency
We recruit athletes who have a strong will to succeed. We then build resiliency by teaching them to stay the course no matter how challenging the journey becomes.
Intensity
We encourage student-athletes to assume an engaged mindset in order to be high-achieving individuals. This energy comes from collective passion and drive to get better every day, remaining laser-focused on becoming a champion on and off the court.
Toughness
We inspire players to love challenges and embrace difficult moments. When confronted with a tough situation they face it head-on and emerge more confident than before.
Individual Training Sessions
During off hours (outside of team practice and classes) players engage in one-on-one training sessions with the head or assistant coach to work on specific areas of their game. During the fall, sessions focus more on technical work; and in the spring, we lock in on competition and tactical development. On days where players have individual workouts, the afternoon team practice is shorter and competition focused, to implement what each player worked on earlier.
Competitive Environment
Players adopt a “competitor first, tennis player second” mentality. A healthy competitive environment is encouraged and fostered. Team practices center on competition between teammates – teaching players how to problem solve, work between points, manage body language, etc. Ultimately, players become more comfortable with competition and learn to embrace pressure or tough situations.
Video Analysis
Each semester players are recorded performing all major strokes. Coaches use the videos alongside those of a pro player similar in body type and game style to illustrate areas to improve technique. All practices and matches can include the use of video to see successful patterns of play or areas that need improvement. During the spring season, video sessions serve as a framework early in the week for each player’s area of focus going into the next weekend of competition. We utilize both Dartfish and Hudl Technique Elite video analysis technologies.
Strength and Conditioning
A great strength and conditioning program has many benefits beyond basic fitness. It can serve as a catalyst for players who need to push past their limits in order to build mental toughness. A fit team is usually a healthy team, with few or no injuries.
We work closely with strength and conditioning coaches to identify key areas of deficiency in player technique and overall fitness, and address areas for growth or potential injury.
Using the First Beat Heart Rate Monitor System, players engage in a year-round system that analyzes heart rates on a daily basis. This is done to measure fitness levels and recovery rates. When players are not recovering from matches or tough practices, their heart rate is high and this is when injuries happen.
The Carolina Tennis Center
More information on the Carolina Tennis Center can be found here.
Carolina Indoor Tennis Center
The Carolina Indoor Tennis Center was opened in September 2021. The $7 million, 55,000-square-foot facility houses six courts, locker rooms, a players lounge, and an athletic training room.
The six courts are designed to look and play just like the outdoor courts at the Carolina Tennis Center. The indoor courts have custom lighting by Sports Interiors that matches those used by the USTA at its indoor facility to provide the best indoor playing experience possible.
The courts feature a central scoreboard, as well as individual scoreboards for each court. The mezzanine level features seating to accommodate 250 fans.
Pathway to the Pros
South Carolina Men's Tennis strives to find student-athletes who are looking to take their careers beyond college tennis and compete on the professional circuit. We are committed to creating an environment that will aid in the individual development of players and allow them to reach their ambitions at the highest level.
The Gamecock Promise
In Fall 2014, South Carolina Athletics formalized a commitment to all of its student-athletes to provide the best possible experience as a Gamecock. A big part of the Gamecock Promise is the degree completion program, which provides funding for any former scholarship student-athlete who leaves the University to return and complete his undergraduate education.
For our program, that means that a player who has the opportunity to turn professional before graduation can capitalize on that and then return to school after they are finished playing on tour. Players who believe they are on that track, do not need to worry about overloading their class schedule in their first few seasons to reach graduation before turning pro. They can keep a sustainable academic workload while playing college tennis, then return to campus following their professional career to completely focus on their degree requirements.
For more on the Gamecock Promise, visit http://gamecockstudentathletepromise.com/
Futures and Challengers
As an SEC school, we have the resources to schedule Futures and Challengers events into our fall calendar. This allows players to build their ATP rankings while in college and continue to move through the levels of the game. Being at an SEC school also allows players to compete in the toughest conference in the NCAA, with at least 20-25 high-quality matches a year. On average, South Carolina student-athletes play around 50 professional-level matches a year.
Surrounded by Excellence
South Carolina Men’s Tennis seeks to provide players with access to the game’s most innovative minds. We host outside consultants who develop solid relationships with our players and staff and help to keep the information fresh and cutting-edge.
Consultants regularly involved with our program:
Paul Drake, MS
First Cardio Performance is a company that improves athletic performance and overall health of athletes and teams through cardiovascular testing and training. Started by trainer Paul Drake, First Cardio utilizes individual bio-markers, data, science and technology to craft custom training directions.
Jay Patel, PhD
The Director of Sports Performance Science for the Gamecocks, Dr. Patel has eight years of experience analyzing human biomechanics using advanced motion capture technology to optimize performance and prevent injury.
Blakely Low-Scott, PhD
The Sports Psychologist for the Gamecocks, Dr. Low facilitates individual and group therapy as well as peak performance services for the student-athletes.
Academic Excellence
The University of South Carolina is one of 32 public universities to earn the Carnegie Foundation's top-tier designations in research activity and community engagement. According to national publications like Kiplinger's Inc. and U.S. News and World Report, our programs stack up against the best in the nation and around the world.