UNF men’s tennis hired 10-year-coaching veteran Matt Lucas to fill the head coaching void.

Lucas previously served as the associate head coach at the University of Buffalo, where they won the Mid-American Conference regular season title and made a run to the NCAA tournament.

Athletic Director Lee Moon saw Lucas as a great fit for the program after his interview process.

“This is a great hire for our program, and we are thrilled to have Matt and all his coaching experience leading our team,” Moon said. “We are excited to have Matt at UNF, and look forward to watching him continue and even grow the success of our men’s tennis program.”

Lucas said he is passionate about tennis and is excited to develop student-athletes at UNF.

“It is an exciting time for the tennis program,” Lucas said. “I look forward to helping build on the past successes while striving to further the national prominence of UNF Tennis and continue competing for ASUN Championships.”

Under his coaching at the University of Buffalo, five All-MAC athletes were made.

Lucas has coached at all levels of competitive tennis including for the International Tennis Federation Pro Circuit.

“Throughout his career he has been a strong teacher of the game and has a wealth of experience in both collegiate and professional tennis,” Moon said.

In 2014, Lucas worked at Wake Forest University for a season as the volunteer assistant coach. While at Wake Forest, he helped the team reach an Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranking of 13.

Before Wake Forest, Lucas was an assistant coach at South Carolina for three seasons. There he not only helped turn the Gamecocks into a Top 25 team, but  also help recruit the No.3 class of 2011.While at the university, Lucas earned the  ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Prior to South Carolina, he was the head coach at the University of the Pacific (2009-2010) and assistant coach at Princeton (2006-2009).  

Lucas played collegiate tennis at Appalachian State and North Carolina State, and ranked as high as No.63 on the ITA Singles Rankings.

He looks forward to having the team be more involved in the Jacksonville community as well as performing in the classroom.

“It is a great day to be an Osprey. SWOOP,” Lucas said.

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