THE University of Alabama Men's Tennis WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE

Where Legends Are Made

Founded in 1831 as the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama has always focused on being the best. This is Where Legends Are Made.

Legends have been made in our academic halls, on our athletic fields and courts, and in our endeavors to shape a better world through our teaching, research and service. We are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service and provide a creative, nurturing campus environment. Our students can become the best individuals possible, learn from the best and brightest faculty and staff, and make a positive difference in the community, the state and the world.

Our Legendary Community

Tuscaloosa is the regional center of industry, commerce, healthcare and education for the area known as West Alabama. While it attracted international attention when Mercedes-Benz built its first North American automotive plant in Tuscaloosa County, the University of Alabama remains the city's dominant economic and cultural engine, making it a college town. Tuscaloosa is also known as the "Druid City" because of the numerous water oaks planted in its downtown streets since the 1840s. With just over 100,000 people, Tuscaloosa is Alabama's 5th largest city and sits near several larger towns. Birmingham, the state's largest city and location of a major international airport, is a 1 hour drive north of campus. Memphis & Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia are all within a 3 hour car ride from the university. Through the 2000s and 2010s, Tuscaloosa has been declared the "Most Livable City in America", one of America's "100 Best Communities for Young People & Families" and one of the "50 Best College Towns".

Downtown Tuscaloosa
The Black Warrior River flows through Tuscaloosa.
The Riverwalk sits adjacent to campus.
Government Plaza
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
The ruins of the historic Capital Park.
Lake Tuscaloosa

Our Legendary Campus

The University of Alabama President's Mansion
Foster Auditorium & Malone Hood Plaza
Big Al bush sculpture on campus.

Academic Legends

  • The University of Alabama is the premier school in the state of Alabama.
  • #2 Best College Athletics in America, #7 Best college campus in America.
  • UA ranked in the top 25 Best Colleges and Universities in the U.S. – 2019, according to Schools.com. The University ranked 24th on the list.
  • PrepScholar ranked UA Honors College among the Top 10 honors colleges in the nation.
  • Home to 38,103 students, Alabama offers nearly 200 degree programs with a student/faculty ratio that averages 23:1.
  • 42.3% of the class entering in 2023 graduated in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
  • 43.4% of freshmen have a high school grade-point average of 4.0 or higher, with the average grade-point average being 3.87.
  • The freshman class includes 256 National Merit Scholars, the largest in UA history. Last year, UA ranked second nationally among public universities with 187 among the freshman class.
  • Some of the University of Alabama Legends: Marillyn Hewson(CEO of Lockheed Martin), Samuel DiPiazza(former CEO PricewaterhouseCoopers), Jimmy Wales(Founder of Wikipedia), Collin Sexton(starting Point Guard Cleveland Cavaliers), Joe Nameth(Hall of Fame NFL quarterback), Justin Thomas(Former #1 PGA tour, current #4).
The Department of Chemistry at Shelby Hall
The Department of Arts and Sciences at Clark Hall
The Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library on "The Quad"

Legends In Athletics

The Department of Athletics at the University of Alabama is represented by 640 student athletes - 334 men and 306 women in 22 sports. The Crimson Tide compete in one of the strongest, most competitive sports conferences in the nation...the SEC (Southeastern Conference).

The SEC has 14 member schools - Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Despite the infinite challenges of the Covid pandemic, Alabama Athletics was named Best in College Sports by CBS Sports for 2020-2021. The Crimson Tide had their most successful sports year in school history while recording 583.75 points to claim the top spot over Oklahoma (473.75 points) and Iowa (463.25 points). Alabama's 110-point margin was one of the largest in the history of the award.

The Crimson Tide's highly-successful 2020-2021 athletic season, which included a College Football Playoff National Championship and Southeastern Conference championships in football, men's basketball, gymnastics and softball, catapulted Alabama to a Top-10 finish in the 2021 Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup. The award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate athletics program. The #7 finish is the highest in program history...the previous best was 14th at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 campaign.

For the recent 2023-2024 athletic season, the Tide accomplished another Top-10 finish in the 2024 Learfield Director's Cup, coming in at #9 after yet another SEC Championship in Football, a Final Four NCAA finish in Men's Basketball, a 2024 Women's College World Series appearance for Softball, and a National Individual Championship for Men's Tennis.

A total of 16 Crimson Tide student-athletes, past and present, continued The University of Alabama's proud tradition of excellence at the Summer Games, competing in Gymnastics, Swimming, Track & Field, Women's Tennis, and Women's Golf . The Crimson Tide captured 2 medals - 1 gold & 1 silver.

Filip Planinsek. First ever National Champion for Men's Tennis

32 National Championships = T-Town...Title Town

  • Football (18)
  • Women's Gymnastics (6)
  • Men's Golf (2)
  • Women's Golf (1)
  • Softball (1)
  • Women's Tennis (2)
  • Men's Tennis (1)
  • Women's Track and Field (1)

A Championship School...104 SEC Championships

  • Football (30)
  • Men's Cross Country (4)
  • Women's Cross Country (3)
  • Men's Basketball (11)
  • Women's Gymnastics (10)
  • Men's Indoor Track and Field (6)
  • Women's Indoor Track and Field (1)
  • Men's Swimming and Diving (2)
  • Women's Swimming and Diving (1)
  • Baseball (14)
  • Softball (7)
  • Men's Outdoor Track and Field (3)
  • Women's Outdoor Track and Field (2)
  • Men's Tennis (1)
  • Women's Tennis (1)
  • Men's Golf (5)
  • Women's Golf (3)
Alabama Football captured the 2023 SEC Championship with a win over Georgia.

Our Legendary Facilities

The University of Alabama athletic department proudly takes on the responsibility to provide high level competition for all fans in some of the best sports facilities in the nation. With no professional sports in the state of Alabama, the Crimson Tide fill the void for most major sporting events. "Bama" fans support their favorite student-athletes and teams from all over the state and all over the country.

101,000+ fans fill Bryant Denny Stadium for Alabama Football.
Fans flock to the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium & Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility.
Men's & Women's Basketball fans rock Coleman Coliseum.
Baseball played day and night at the pristine Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Fans pack Coleman Coliseum for Women's Gymnastics meets.
The historic Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.
Swimming and Diving at the Alabama Aquatic Center.
Rhoads Stadium features the best softball fans in the country.
Women's Volleyball at the historic Foster Auditorium.
Alabama Futbol at the Women's Soccer Stadium.
Big Al, the official mascot of the Crimson Tide, is a fixture for all Alabama sports programs.

Bill Battle Athletic Performance Center

The Bill Battle Athletic Performance Center, formerly known as the Alabama Strength and Conditioning Complex, was first opened in 2013, and named on January 2021. It serves all 22 Alabama teams and features a state-of-the-art weight room, strength and conditioning offices and a performance nutrition center to fuel Alabama student-athletes.

The 37,000-square-foot weight room features 21,000-square feet on the lower level and 16,000-square feet on the second floor. The weight room is highlighted by 24 combination racks with the EliteForm training system that utilizes 3D-camera technology to enhance athlete training and performance.

The upper level includes cardio stations and offices for fitness coaches.

Hank Crisp Indoor Facility

The Hank Crisp Indoor Facility, connected to the Bill Battle Athletic Performance Center is a 130+ yard field, that makes it the largest collegiate indoor practice facility in the nation under one roof. It has 97,000 square feet of clear space, measuring 20 percent larger than a typical college football field and is used by the men's tennis program for fitness and agility.

Alabama Sports Science Center

The University of Alabama Sports Science Center opened in August 2020 and features state of the art recovery resources for all students-athletes. This includes:

  • Hydrotherapy room with large hot and cold pools, along with a zero entry aquatic rehabilitation pool.
  • Sleeping Pods for recovery.
  • Floating Beds for recovery.
  • Cryotherapy Chamber for recovery.
  • Normatec stations with zero gravity chairs.
  • Mental Health rooms reserved for student athletes to meet with sports psychologist staff and mental health professionals.
  • Virtual reality rehabilitation suite.
  • Physician’s examination rooms.
  • X-ray room.
Cryotherapy chamber
Hydrotherapy room
Sleeping pods
Normatec chairs
Virtual Reality Rehab room
Mental Health room

Bill Battle Academic Center

One of the secrets behind the academic success for Crimson Tide student-athletes is the Bill Battle Academic Center located at Paul W. Bryant Hall. The academic center has a staff of 19 full-time employees, five academic advisors and over 100 tutors who work with athletes throughout the 12 months of the year. The facility includes study rooms with computers, three multimedia classrooms, and a computer lab. In addition, the Bill Battle Academic Center is home to the Susan and Gaylon McCollough A-Club Career and Leadership Development Center. This unique service prepares student-athletes with life skills necessary for a career after sport.

Main lobby of the Bill Battle Academic Center.
Computer lab available to all student-athletes.
One of three classrooms within the Bill Battle Academic Center.

From the moment a student-athlete first walks onto the campus to the moment they graduate, exceptional and comprehensive academic services are available. The staff works as a liaison between the Athletic Department and the University's undergraduate and graduate divisions. They ensure that all student-athletes maintain satisfactory progress towards a degree, monitors academic eligibility and offers career advice and counseling.

In addition to these services, the Bill Battle Academic Center also provides programming for life skills, leadership development and support services for a career after sport.

University of Alabama Student-Athletes... Legends in the Classroom

  • Alabama student-athletes have earned 182 Academic All-America honors, which ranks No. 1 in the SEC and fifth overall among NCAA Division I schools.
  • Alabama leads the nation in Academic All-America accolades since 2010 with 100.
  • Alabama is the only school to earn double-digit Academic All-America honors in each of the last six years.
  • Alabama has earned 16 NCAA Elite 90 honors, ranking second behind Stanford.
  • Alabama has had 15 student-athletes earn the NCAA Top 10 Award, including eight in the last 10 years.
Alabama led the SEC with 151 Student-Athletes on the Academic Honor Roll for Spring 2021. For the sixth year in a row, the Crimson Tide led the Southeastern Conference in Academic Honor Roll recipients.

Notable Men's Tennis Academic Honors under Head Coach George Husack

  • 12-time ITA All-Academic Team honors (cumulative team gpa above 3.20) - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,2022,2023,2024.
  • 64 ITA Scholar Athletes (3.50 gpa or above for the academic year) - 2013 (3), 2014 (4), 2015 (5), 2016 (3), 2017 (5), 2018 (5), 2019 (5), 2020 (6), 2021 (10), 2022 (8), 2023 (5), 2024 (5).
  • 2 Back-To-Back SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Winners - Daniil Proskura (2013 & 2014) and Edson Ortiz (2020 & 2021).
  • 80 All SEC Spring & 1st Year Honor Roll Recipients: 2013 (6), 2014 (3), 2015 (5), 2016 (7), 2017 (6), 2018 (6), 2019 (9), 2020 (9), 2021 (12), 2022 (7), 2023 (3), 2024 (7).
  • 8-Time Top GPA Winner for all Alabama male teams 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.
  • 2nd ever CSC Academic All-America: 2024.
Spring 2024 Team GPA.
Zach Foster (Class of 2025) Named Alabama’s Second All-Time Men’s Tennis CSC Academic All-America
Enzo Aguiard (Class of 2025) Named to SEC Community Service Team

Legendary Student-Athlete Dining

The Alabama Student-Athlete Dining Facility opened its doors on July 23, 2018. The 25,000 square foot facility is comprised of serving areas on two levels, 10 action stations, a grab-and-go fuel center and smoothie bar, two outdoor patio dining areas and a private dining space for meetings, nutrition education and cooking demonstrations. The staff includes the Director of Performance Nutrition, four registered dietitians, five performance chefs and over 20 nutrition assistants.

Alabama student-athletes form long-lasting relationships across all sports when eating at the Athletic Dining hall.

University of Alabama Tennis Stadium

  • 12 Outdoor Courts
  • Livestream Cameras on 6 main competition courts
  • Player Lounge with Kitchen and Fueling Station
  • Training Room with Recovery Room and Cold Tubs
  • Locker Room
  • Game Room
  • Staff Offices
  • Study Area
A warm November practice outdoors.
The Player Lounge is a great area for rest, studying, and team building.
The Men's Locker room provides plenty of space for each tennis player.
Competition goes beyond the court in the Game Room
"Alabama Southern Lights"

Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Facility

  • 6 Indoor Courts
  • Livestream Cameras on all 6 Courts
  • Overhead and Courtside Seating for 500 fans
  • Hospitality Room for the Crimson Racket Club (official booster club of Alabama Tennis)
Six indoor courts used only by Alabama tennis players.
Seating for up to 500 fans to watch the brief indoor season.

Head Coach George Husack

Head Coach George Husack enters his 13th season at Alabama and 30th overall in college coaching at four universities (University of Alabama, University of Southern California, University of Illinois, Santa Clara University).
At USC, Husack won 3 of 4 consecutive national team championships prior to his arrival at Alabama.

Assistant Coach Ezequiel Gils

Gils enters his 4th season at Alabama and 7th overall in college coaching at four universities (Alabama, UAB, Rice, and Tennessee Wesleyan).

Assistant Coach Sebastian Vile

Sebastian Vile enters his 2nd season at Alabama

Alabama Men's Tennis Support Staff

Katie Meek, Team Physio & Sports Medicine
Derek Butler, Strength & Conditioning Coach
Daijah Thibodeaux, Team Academic Advisor
Madison Yourstone, Team Sports Dietitian
Dr. Ginger Gilmore, Director Behavioral Medicine

Alabama Social Media

ALABAMA TENNIS IS ABOUT...

Competing

2021 Most Valuable Competitor, Jeremy Gschwendtner (Class of 2021)
2021 Most Improved Competitor, Riccardo Roberto (Class of 2021)
2020 ITA Southern Region Most Improved Senior, Edson Ortiz
ITA All-American Patrick Kaukovalta (Class of 2022)
2021 ITA Southern Region Most Improved Senior and 2019 & 2020 Most Valuable Competitor, Zhe Zhou
2020 Most Improved Competitor Alexey Nesterov (left) and 2021 Most Improved Competitor Riccardo Roberto (right).
Big Al loves Alabama Tennis.
Traveling to NCAA Championships.
On board and en route to NCAA Championships.

WE ARE THE CRIMSON TIDE

Passionate fans, committed & hard working student-athletes, devoted faculty & staff, world-class facilities, invaluable support & resources, leaders leading and legacies in the making. That's a recipe for...

Legends!

Big Al at Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama Football team entering packed Bryant Denny Stadium.

Where Legends Are Made is about the past, present and future of The University of Alabama. It speaks to the aspirations of our students and their parents, to the pride of our alumni and donors, and to the devotion of our legions of fans in our state, across the nation and around the globe. There is no average in the minds of the Crimson Tide but rather a legendary and lasting legacy for all those who come.

Are You Ready To Become A Legend?

ROLL TIDE!