University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennis Coach Michael Fancutt Announces Resignation
November 09, 2004 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 9, 2004
Univerity of Tennessee Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton announced Monday that Michael Fancutt has resigned as head men's tennis coach. Associate head coach Chris Mahony has been named acting head coach for the remainder of the 2004-05 season.
"The amount of work-time necessary - not only for coaching but also for recruiting on a global basis - is certainly a consideration for me and my family at this time," Fancutt said. "My wife Elisabeth and I are expecting our second child in January, and the desire for more quality family time is important to us.
"I've had an opportunity to be in Knoxville for the past 22 years - 12 years as a player and coach, and I also was based here for 10 years while I was on the pro tennis circuit. It has certainly been an enjoyable experience for me here at Tennessee."
Fancutt, who took over as head coach following the Vols' disappointing five-win 1997 season, orchestrated a speedy ascent back to national prominence for the Big Orange. In his first season at the helm, he led the 1998 Vols to a year-end ranking of No. 19 in the nation and received SEC Coach of the Year honors.
Only two years later, Tennessee captured the SEC regular-season championship and then built upon its conference success by reaching the 2000 NCAA semifinals.
A skilled and effective tactical coach and psychological motivator, Fancutt accomplished a feat that no other coach in the nation could boast from 2000-02 - he led his teams to three consecutive NCAA semifinal appearances, including a berth in the 2001 national final.
The Vols' NCAA quarterfinal victory over Kentucky in 2002 gave Fancutt his 100th career win as a head coach, making him the fastest UT men's tennis coach to reach the century mark (only 135 total matches).
"We appreciate Michael Fancutt and what he has meant to our tennis program, both as a student-athlete and as a coach," Hamilton said. "He leaves us having returned our program to national prominence. We wish Liz and him all the best."
Renowned on the collegiate tennis landscape as a tremendous recruiter worldwide, Fancutt coached five players to All-America seasons, with Peter Handoyo, Mark Parsons, Mario Toledo, Simon Rea and Damien Spizzo garnering the honor a combined seven times.
With one SEC regular-season title, an SEC Tournament crown and six NCAA appearances under his coaching belt, Fancutt concludes his career at Tennessee with a 123-57 (.683) record in seven seasons. He is UT's second-winningest men's tennis coach all-time behind Mike DePalmer Sr., who went 299-119 from 1981-94.
"I feel confident in leaving the team in the hands of a person of the caliber of Chris Mahony," Fancutt said. "He has the experience and has been associated with top-ranked players and championship teams. I'm sure he will continue to be successful here."
Mahony (pronounced MAH-nee), a native of Brisbane, Australia, graduated from UT in 1996. He earned All-America honors in 1995 and 1996, and also captured the 1996 ROLEX National Indoor Doubles championship with partner Pablo Montana.
Also an academic standout during his collegiate career, Mahony garnered Academic All-America honors in 1995 and 1996 and was a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
In 1999, Mahony was named Tennessee's assistant men's tennis coach and garnered ITA Region III Assistant Coach of the Year recognition in 2002. He was promoted to his current position of associate head coach in 2002.
