Men's Tennis

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Photo by: Tony Walsh
Manuel Diaz
Manuel Diaz
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Men's Tennis Office: 706-542-9348
Manuel Diaz Email: Mannydiaz@sports.uga.edu

Manuel Diaz – the SEC’s all-time winningest coach who ranks sixth in NCAA men’s tennis history with 781 career victories – served as Georgia’s head coach for 36 seasons. 
 
A member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, the Puerto Rican Tennis Hall of Fame and the USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, Diaz made an incredible impact on collegiate tennis, leading Georgia to an unfathomable 29 Southeastern Conference championships, four NCAA national titles (1999, 2001, 2007 and 2008) and two ITA indoor national championships. He was named SEC Coach of the Year on seven occasions and the ITA National Coach of the Year three times. 
 
During his 46-year association with the Georgia men's tennis program, Diaz was a two-time All-American during his playing days from 1972-75, and then served on Coach Dan Magill's staff as an assistant/associate head coach from 1982-88. He was a part of each of Georgia's national championship teams and won SEC Championships in each of the last five decades. 
 
Diaz served as head coach of the Georgia men's tennis program since the 1988-89 season, following the retirement of his mentor, Dan Magill, through the 2023-24 campaign, setting in motion a legendary career. 
 
Georgia reached the NCAA Tournament in all 36 seasons under his leadership, advancing to the quarterfinals in 27 of those trips to the postseason. His players captured eight individual NCAA Championships — three in doubles and five in singles, while his teams made 11 trips to the NCAA finals and 18 appearances in the NCAA semifinals round. His squads have also finished with an unblemished conference mark seven times. 
 
Perhaps most impressive is that every four-year letterman won at least one SEC Championship ring while playing at Georgia for Coach Diaz. He also had 40 different players earn a total of 97 All-American honors, and 60 individuals account for 135 All-SEC recognitions. Diaz's players have also won the SEC Player of the Year recognition three times, six SEC Freshman of the Year honors, two ITA National Rookie of the Year awards, four ITA National Senior Player of the Year honors and three ITA National Player of the Year awards. 
 
The program finished the year with a top-10 ranking 29 times and a top-five ranking 19 times with Diaz as the head coach. 
 
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Diaz played for Coach Magill from 1972-1975, helping Georgia win four-straight SEC team titles. He was named a two-time All-American and a three-time All-SEC selection as a player. He also earned seven individual SEC titles and two Southern Intercollegiate Championship singles titles. He was co-captain of the 1975 team. 
 
Diaz is married to the former Suzanne Rondeau of Toronto, Canada. They have three sons: Manuel III, Eric and Alex. Alex and Eric both played on Georgia's men's tennis team. Eric earned his degree in the spring of 2015. He was the assistant coach of the Boise State men's tennis program from 2015-23 and is now a tennis player development coach. Alex graduated from UGA in the spring of 2021.

The Manuel Diaz Era
Year Record Final Ranking SEC Finish NCAA Finish
1989 21-6 3rd 1st Final
1990 21-5 5th 2nd Quarterfinals
1991 27-3 2nd 1st Final
1992 17-5 4th 3rd Quarterfinals
1993 25-4 2nd T1st Final
1994 17-6 5th 2nd Quarterfinals
1995 27-2 2nd 1st Semifinals
1996 22-4 5th T1st Semifinals
1997 23-4 2nd T1st Final
1998 26-4 3rd 2nd Final
1999 26-5 1st T1st Champion
2000 17-11 18th 4th Round of 32
2001 28-1 1st 1st Champion
2002 28-4 2nd 1st Final
2003 9-15 23rd 10th Round of 64
2004 20-6 6th 3rd Round of 16
2005 20-7 7th 3rd Quarterfinals
2006 30-1 2nd 1st Final
2007 32-0 1st 1st Champion
2008 27-3 1st 1st Champion
2009 25-4 6th T1st Quarterfinals
2010 21-8 11th 3rd Semifinals
2011 24-6 5th T1st Semifinals
2012 26-3 5th 2nd Quarterfinals
2013 26-5 3rd 1st Semifinals
2014 18-8 9th 1st Round of 16
2015 24-5 8th T1st Quarterfinals
2016 24-5 7th 1st Semifinals
2017 22–8 7th T1st Semifinals
2018 13-11 19th 8th Round of 64
2019 14-11 17th 5th Round of 32
2020 9-2 - - -
2021 17-7 9th 3rd Quarterfinals
2022 18-8 10th 4th Round of 32
2023 23-7 7th 1st Quarterfinals
2024 14-14 39th 8th Round of 64


Overall Record: 781-206
Four NCAA Championships
Two ITA National Indoor Championships
29 SEC Championships

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