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 college tennis coach and a former professional tennis player. During his playing career, he won two singles and two doubles ATP Tour titles. 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 of 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 teams. He decided to coach his son, Ben Shelton, for his professional tennis career. Ben Shelton has also become a successful player, winning an ATP Tour title and reaching the semifinals at the 2023 US Open.
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Early Years
Shelton was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He went to Randolph School in Huntsville for high school. He played for the Randolph Raiders boys' tennis team. He won the Alabama high school singles championship three times, from 1982 to 1984.
Personal Life
Bryan Shelton is the father of professional tennis player Ben Shelton.
College Career
Shelton received an 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 the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion in singles 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.
Shelton won the United States Amateur Championships in 1985. He earned a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech in 1989. In 1993, he was honored by being inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional 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, playing 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 highest 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
Shelton officially stopped playing professional tennis in 1997. From January 1998 to June 1999, he worked as a United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Coach. During this time, he coached MaliVai Washington, who was a finalist at Wimbledon in 1996.
Georgia Tech Women's Team
In July 1999, Shelton became the head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's tennis team. In his first year, his team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. They upset 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 their third straight ACC Championship. On May 22, 2007, they won Georgia Tech's first NCAA team championship by beating 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. Shelton was also named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Coach of the Year in 2007.
Florida Gators Men's Team
On June 8, 2012, the University of Florida announced that Shelton would be the new head coach of the Florida Gators men's tennis team. He led the Gators to great success, including winning the 2021 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship. This made him the only coach to win national championships in both men's and women's NCAA Division I tennis.
On June 2, 2023, Shelton announced that he was leaving his coaching position at the University of Florida. He decided to coach his son, Ben Shelton, as he began his professional tennis career.
See also
- Florida Gators
- History of the University of Florida
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- List of Georgia Institute of Technology athletes
- Roland Thornqvist
- University Athletic Association
