White Extends Chris Woodruff’s Contract Through 2030

After a season in which the Tennessee men's tennis program reached the SEC Tournament semifinals for the sixth straight season and extended its streak of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and making an NCAA Super Regional to six years as well, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced that he has extended Head Coach Chris Woodruff's contract through the 2030 season.

"Under Chris's outstanding leadership, our men's tennis program has firmly established itself as one of the premier programs in the nation," White said. "We are thrilled to have him at the helm, guiding us to even greater success in the years ahead here on Rocky Top!"

With only two players returning from the 2023-24 roster, Tennessee overcame that inexperience to card a 22-9 overall record, including a 15-3 mark at home in 2024-25. The Vols finished at No. 15 in the final ITA rankings in Woodruff's eighth season as their leader.

Reflecting the elite player development atmosphere Woodruff and his staff have cultivated on Rocky Top, UT was led by senior Shunsuke Mitsui, who capped his career by earning ITA All-America status for the second straight season and All-SEC acclaim for the fourth time in his career. After earning ITA Ohio Valley Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2022, Mitsui book-ended his career with ITA Ohio Valley Region Senior Player of the Year acclaim in 2025.

Graduate Alex Kotzen joined Mitsui on the All-SEC First Team, continuing a spree of Tennessee placing at least two players per year on the all-league squad since 2018. Kotzen, who also was chosen as SEC Newcomer of the Year, finished the season ranked No. 21 by the ITA in singles, while Mitsui was 25th, and Kotzen and junior Alejandro Moreno concluded the campaign at No. 11 in doubles.

"I'm forever grateful for the opportunity Tennessee has given not only myself but my terrific family as well," Woodruff said. "The last seven years in particular have been incredible, especially under the direction of Danny White and his staff. They have led this athletic department to new heights, and I'm thrilled to receive this contract extension and have the opportunity to hopefully do our part in men's tennis."

Woodruff, a 2005 UT graduate who starred for the Vols from 1991-93 before embarking on a professional career, has posted a 181-55 record (.767), which ranks as the highest winning percentage in program history with a minimum of 100 matches and stands No. 2 overall. He is only the third head coach in program history to amass 175 wins.

He has guided the Vols to the NCAA Tournament seven times (no tourney was held in 2020), with his squads posting a 17-7 postseason record and advancing to the national semifinals in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, that 2022 squad was an ITA Indoor finalist, and his 2021 unit claimed the SEC Tournament title.

While leading his alma mater, he has produced five All-SEC First Team and three All-SEC Second Team players, including SEC Player of the Year Johannus Monday (2023, 2024), SEC Newcomer of the Year Alex Kotzen (2025) and SEC Freshman of the Year Johannus Monday (2021). Eight student-athletes under his tutelage as head coach are currently playing professionally.

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University of Tennessee Athletics

White Extends Chris Woodruff’s Contract Through 2030

Players Mentioned

Alex Kotzen

Shunsuke Mitsui

Alejandro Moreno

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