Bryan Shelton facts for kids
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Shelton in 2023
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Gainesville, Florida |
| Born | December 22, 1965 Huntsville, Alabama |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Turned pro | 1989 |
| Retired | 1997 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$1,220,283 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 104–137 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 55 (March 23, 1992) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1991) |
| French Open | 2R (1994) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1994) |
| US Open | 2R (1989) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 94–129 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 52 (February 28, 1994) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1991, 1994) |
| French Open | 3R (1990) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1994) |
| US Open | 2R (1992, 1993, 1994) |
Bryan Shelton (born December 22, 1965) is an American former professional tennis player and a very successful college tennis coach. During his time as a player, he won two singles and two doubles titles on the ATP Tour. He also reached the mixed doubles final at the 1992 French Open with his partner, Lori McNeil.
Shelton played college tennis for Georgia Tech from 1985 to 1988. After that, he played professionally from 1989 to 1997. Later, he returned to Georgia Tech to coach the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's tennis team. They won the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship in 2007.
He then became the head coach for the Florida Gators men's tennis team at the University of Florida. He led the Gators to win the 2021 NCAA Championship. Bryan Shelton is the only head coach to have won a national championship in both men's and women's NCAA Division I Tennis.
In 2023, Shelton stopped coaching college tennis. He decided to coach his son, Ben Shelton, who is now a professional tennis player. Ben Shelton has also won an ATP Tour title and reached the semifinals at the 2023 US Open.
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Early Life and High School Tennis
Bryan Shelton was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He went to Randolph School in Huntsville for high school. While playing for the Randolph Raiders boys' tennis team, he won the Alabama high school singles championship three times, from 1982 to 1984.
College Tennis Journey
Shelton received a special athletic scholarship to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. He played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's tennis team from 1985 to 1988.
He was a champion in singles for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1985. In 1986, he and his teammate Richy Gilbert won the ACC doubles championship. Shelton was chosen as an All-ACC player in all four of his seasons at Georgia Tech. He was also named an All-American in 1988, which means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.
In 1985, Shelton won the United States Amateur Championships. He earned a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech in 1989. In 1993, he was honored by being added to the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional Tennis Career
Bryan Shelton won two singles titles during his professional career. Both wins were at the Newport tournament, in 1991 and 1992. He also reached the mixed doubles final at the 1992 French Open with Lori McNeil.
He played right-handed and used a two-handed backhand. His highest singles ranking on the ATP Tour was No. 55, which he reached on March 23, 1992. His best doubles ranking was No. 52, achieved on February 28, 1994. In 2006, he was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Coaching Successes
Shelton officially stopped playing professional tennis in 1997. He then became a National Coach for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) from January 1998 to June 1999. During this time, he coached MaliVai Washington, who was a finalist at Wimbledon in 1996.
In July 1999, Shelton became the head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's tennis team. In his very first season, his team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. They even beat the No. 25 Washington Huskies before losing to the No. 9 UCLA Bruins.
He was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005, and 2007. His 2007 team won Georgia Tech's third straight ACC Championship. On May 22, 2007, they won Georgia Tech's first-ever NCAA team championship by defeating UCLA in the finals of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. Before Shelton became coach, the Georgia Tech women's tennis team had never even qualified for the NCAA tournament. He was also named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Coach of the Year in 2007.
On June 8, 2012, the University of Florida announced that Shelton would be the new head coach for the Florida Gators men's tennis team. He led the Florida Gators to win the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship in 2021.
On June 2, 2023, Shelton announced he was stepping down from his college coaching job. He chose to focus on coaching his son, Ben Shelton, in his professional tennis career.
Personal Life
Bryan Shelton is the father of professional tennis player Ben Shelton.
Images for kids
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Shelton in 2023
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Shelton in 2016
See also
In Spanish: Bryan Shelton para niños
