Women's Tennis 8/9/2023 9:30:00 AM Madeline Cummings, Athletic Communications

John Shackelford Named Recipient of the 2023 ITA Meritorious Service Award

Tempe, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced on Aug. 8 that current Sewanee Director of Athletics and former Director of Tennis John Shackelford has been honored for his outstanding commitment and contributions to collegiate tennis as the 2023 Meritorious Service Award recipient presented by ConantLeadership.

The ITA Meritorious Service Award is given annually in recognition of an ITA coach who has made major contributions and shown commitment to the ITA and college tennis. Shackelford will attend the 2023 ITA Leadership Weekend in New York City, where he will be recognized with other ITA award winners before the start of the 2023 U.S. Open.

"As both the governing body and coaches association for college tennis, the ITA Meritorious Service Award is one of our most important awards," says ITA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Timothy Russell. "John Shackelford exemplified the long-standing combination of commitment to leadership and mentorship both on and off the court with service to our sport, including as the tournament director for ITA National Team Indoor Championships, which are a critical part of our competitive structure."

The Meritorious Service Award has been presented annually since 2014 and is presented to coaches across all divisions.

During Shackelford's tenure as director of tennis and head men's tennis coach, the men's tennis team won 551 career matches, 12 conference titles, made 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and had four ITA top-10 rankings. Shackelford compiled a career record of 529-276 and holds the title for the most successful men's coach in Sewanee athletics history. He coached 17 All-Americans and 96 All-Conference players in his 32-year career.

"I played my first ITA event on the campus of Wake Forest in the fall of 1982 and was hosting a regional just two years later while coaching at UNC-Asheville. In those early years of playing and coaching, your focus is on being successful and achieving the goals you've set for yourself and your team. As those decades unfold in our lives, there's a natural shift in our focus from success to service. I've treasured the hundreds of relationships with my wife, Conchie, and I have built with our fellow coaches, the players I've been honored to work with, and the many programs we've competed against," says Shackelford. "In the end, the pleasure has all been mine, and this generous honor recognizes the efforts of the numerous friends I've served with. Thank you to the ITA, the various committees that support their work, and most importantly to the student-athletes whose competitive and educational experiences are the reason for our work."

Shackelford was named the 2017 ITA Atlantic South Coach of the Year, two-time Southern Collegiate Conference Men's Tennis Coach of the Year award winner, and Southern Athletic Association Coach of the Year winner.

Shackelford also served the university from 2011 to 2016 as the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, the Chairman of the Cornerstore Initiative, and lead the ReThink Task Force which examined and reported on student life issues outside of the classroom. He now enters his second season as Director of Athletics.

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