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TEMPE, Ariz. – Ahead of a highly anticipated class of inductees, the ITA is excited to announce details for the upcoming 2026 Men’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Athens, Georgia.
In conjunction with the NCAA Division I Team Championships hosted at the University of Georgia, the ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11 a.m. EST at The Georgia Center, prior to the start of the team final.
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026Time: 11 a.m. ESTLocation: The Georgia Center (1197 S Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602)RSVP: Here
Continue reading below for more information on the 2026 class.
Manny Diaz, Coach, Georgia – The winningest coach in SEC history and one of the best in the history of collegiate tennis, Manuel Diaz retired in 2024 after 36 seasons as Georgia’s head coach. Diaz retired with 781 career wins, four NCAA team titles (1999, 2001, 2007-08), two ITA National Indoor championships and 11 trips to the NCAA finals. The Bulldogs dominated the SEC for much of his tenure, winning a combined (regular season or tournament) 29 conference titles. Diaz was named the SEC Coach of the Year seven times and was a three-time ITA National Coach of the Year.
Kevin Anderson, Player, Illinois – An NCAA doubles champion in 2006, a five-time All-American and the leader of an Illinois squad that reached the team final in 2007, Kevin Anderson pieced together an impressive resumé during his three seasons with the Illini before a successful run on the ATP Tour. The 6-foot-8 Anderson played professionally for 16 years, reaching as high as No. 5 in the ATP world rankings. He won seven career singles titles, reaching the finals of the 2017 U.S. Open and 2018 Wimbledon before ending his career with an overall singles record of 356-255.
John Isner, Player, Georgia – The top American men’s player throughout much of his pro career, John Isner arrived on the ATP Tour in 2007 following a highly successful four-year career at Georgia. Throughout college with the Bulldogs, the 6-foot-10 Isner went 138-27 in singles and 138-24 in doubles. Isner and Hall of Famer Al Parker are tied for most career singles wins at Georgia. Isner, who’s tied with Hall of Famer Al Parker for most career singles wins at Georgia, also holds the title for the program’s all-time leader in doubles wins and total victories.
Steve Johnson, Player, USC – One of the greatest college players of all time, Steve Johnson led USC to four NCAA team titles (2009-12) and captured a pair of NCAA singles championships (2011-12). A seven-time All-American, Johnson closed out his career on an NCAA-record 72-match win streak. In his senior season, Johnson went 37-0 in singles and 31-3 in doubles. Twelve years after turning pro, Johnson retired from tennis in 2024 with an overall record of 197-204 on the ATP Tour. He won four singles titles in his career, reached a high of No. 21 in the world in 2016, won a pair of doubles titles and earned more than $8 million in career earnings.
John Frierson, Contributor – The ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame curator since 2015, John Frierson takes care of day-to-day operations at the Hall of Fame, from conducting tours to collecting artifacts and creating new exhibits. Frierson’s connection to college tennis practically dates back to birth, as his parents, Ann and Joe, held a close relationship with legendary Georgia coach and Hall of Fame creator Dan Magill. Between hours playing tennis on the Henry Field Stadium courts to serving as a ball boy during numerous NCAA Championships, Frierson had covered about every square inch of Georgia’s tennis courts before he was a teenager.
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
