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An Informal History of the ITA | ITA Hall of Fame Webpage
Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is honored to present the highly anticipated video documentary, “An Informal History of the ITA.” This full-length video takes a deeper look into the rich history of the organization and modern college tennis from its inception.
“The production of An Informal History of the ITA has been an important labor of love,” said ITA CEO Emeritus, Dr. Timothy Russell. “It is fitting that this remarkable story is told by my dear friend and colleague David Benjamin, who was the architect of college tennis as we know it today. David was also a keeper of the history of the ITA and worked tirelessly with our video production team to present this important look back at how our sport evolved.”
Produced in association with Sunburnt Studio, this video documentary is guided by ITA Chairman Emeritus, Dr. David A Benjamin, who helped navigate the ITA through its inception and who paved the way for college tennis to become the thriving sport that it is today. In addition to the insight from David Benjamin, this documentary also provides viewers with the opportunity to hear from the sport’s greatest champions and coaches including the likes of Patrick McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Stan Smith, Dick Gould, Ann Lebedeff, and Louise Gengler, to name a few.
“Almost five years ago, we first began discussing the importance of producing a documentary about the history of the ITA and Modern College Tennis,” said Dr. Benjamin. “This video is the result of those early conversations and a great deal of experience, expertise, dedication and teamwork on the part of everyone involved in this very special project. Great thanks to all!”
Covering many key moments throughout the sport’s modern history, this video documentary encompasses a variety of important topics, including: “The Early Years,” “Serving as the Governing Body of College Tennis,” “the ITA Halls of Fame,” “Partnerships with the USTA & NCAA,” and “Important Collegiate Issues.”
Some of the distinguished insight provided includes the following from Patrick McEnroe and Stan Smith:
“The story of the ITA and its role in growing and shaping college tennis is very important to tell, and without doubt the best person to tell these stories is David Benjamin.” – Patrick McEnroe
“The evolving of the game through the ITA and college tennis has really grown the game. In fact, it has made the sport stronger than ever.” – Stan Smith
This video documentary project is the culmination of years of collaboration between David Benjamin and the ITA and utilizes some of the countless archives that the ITA Men’s and Women’s Halls of Fame has on display in both Athens, Georgia and Williamsburg, Virginia where both Halls of Fame reside. We highly encourage you to visit both locations to experience even more history and memorabilia from the illustrious history of college tennis.
“The ITA has been proud to serve as the steward of the rich history of college tennis, while also supporting student-athletes, coaches, and programs that have shaped the future of tennis both on and off the court,” states ITA President and CEO, David Mullins. “This documentary provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the remarkable evolution of college tennis—from its humble beginnings to the global stage it occupies today—and the tireless work of those who have made it all possible. It’s a legacy of passion, perseverance, and community that continues to inspire the next generation of tennis leaders.”
The full-length documentary can be viewed by clicking the link below or on the ITA YouTube Channel.
About The ITA – The ITA is the governing body of college tennis and a coaches association, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. The ITA is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow while promoting both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, founded in 1956, is comprised of more than 2,000 men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams representing more than 1,250 institutions, 3,000 college tennis coaches, 1,400 college tennis officials, while administering numerous regional and national championships, and the ITA College Tennis Rankings for 20,000 college varsity student-athletes across five levels of play. The ITA also bolsters an industry-leading awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership, and sportsmanship. Keep up with all of the excitement around college tennis by visiting WeAreCollegeTennis.com and following the ITA on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
