The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) recently faced criticism over the swift and repeated cancellation of college tennis programs, following reports that Dallas Baptist University had eliminated both men’s and women’s tennis.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a member-led organization that regulates college sports in the United States and North America.
USTA and ITA Come Under Scrutiny Amid Rising Cancellations of NCAA College Tennis Programs
The axing of tennis programs across various colleges in the USA has grown steadily more frequent. The University of San Francisco announced the discontinuation of its men’s and women’s tennis programs last year. Likewise, earlier in March, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) dropped its men’s and women’s golf and tennis programs, which will be in effect from June 30, 2025.
Moreover, on Friday, April 18, the University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) Vice President and Director of Athletics, Jim Senter, also announced the termination of its women’s tennis program. Amid the growing withdrawal of colleges’ tennis programs, the DBU also terminated its men’s and women’s tennis programs.
Thomas Anderson, the founder and chairman of a college placement agency, USP, shared this update on Facebook and questioned the USTA and ITA for not taking action against it.
“Another college tennis program gone… Dallas Baptist University has quietly cut both men’s and women’s tennis. No official announcement—just silence. How many more programs need to disappear before real action is taken? Where is the ITA? Where is the USTA? Maybe it’s time college tennis fights back the same way other sports have—legally!” He said.
James McKie, director of player relations at UTR Sports, echoed Anderson’s sentiments and shared his post on X:
Be careful college tennis. This is about the 25th tennis program GONE since January.
Think outside the box & GROW REVENUE FOR YOUR PROGRAMS!! Show your administrator how you can fundraise & generate your own budget.
Times are changing. Accept it. Need advice? Let me know. pic.twitter.com/0zkImaT80R
— James McKie (@JamesMcKie_UTR)
Southern Utah University Dropped Tennis Long Before USTA and ITA Drew Flak
Southern Utah University dropped both its tennis programs in 2020. It was a seemingly surprising move, given that just a year earlier, the men’s and women’s teams had appointed new head coaches and welcomed 10 international student-athletes. SUU’s women’s tennis coach, Michael Mucci, lamented the move on Facebook.
“As much as I am disappointed for myself that I didn’t get to do what I wanted to do with the program with both COVID-19 shortening our season and now the cancellation of both teams,” he wrote. He added, “I am truly appreciative for the opportunity I was given at SUU, but this is a sad and scary time for college athletics, specifically college tennis.”
Southern Utah University introduced tennis before the 2012 academic year, which was when they discontinued baseball.
