THE FLATS. – Georgia Tech men’s tennis head coach Kenny Thorne announced the addition of Yellow Jacket alumnus Juan Spir to the program’s coaching staff as a volunteer assistant on Thursday afternoon.
“We are extremely happy to have Juan Spir come on our coaching staff,” Thorne said. “He is one of the best players to come through Tech, and more importantly he is a great person. He has a passion to develop tennis players as well as the total person which has always been our mission at Georgia Tech.”
“He has had success on the pro tennis tour and has been very successful outside of tennis since graduating. He was in charge of building his own team for his former company and that experience will be valuable towards building our young roster. He has played at a very high level and will be a great addition for helping our team achieve our development goals.”
Spir was a three-time ITA All-American (2011, 2012, 2013) and a three-time All-ACC performer during his time on The Flats. He finished his collegiate career with a Tech-record 103 doubles wins in four years, while posting a 75-53 singles record. Along with an illustrious playing career, Spir excelled in the classroom having been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll twice.
Following his graduation from Tech, Spir played professional tennis on the ATP Challenger Tour circuit. He also captured two gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2014.
“Returning to my alma mater and helping our student-athletes succeed has been something that I have always wanted to do,” said Spir. “Being a student-athlete at Georgia Tech is not an easy task, so I can help them navigate the challenges ahead based on my own experiences and continue to build on the great tradition that we have here.”
“We have a young and talented team that is eager to work hard and leave their mark on the program,” Spir added. “I am excited by the opportunity and can’t wait to be competing on the court with them. Working with Kenny and assistant coach Jeremy Efferding is also a great opportunity, as they have built one of the best tennis programs in the nation.”
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the A-T Fund’s Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes, and Athletics Initiative 2020, Georgia Tech athletics’ ongoing $125 million initiative to allow Tech to recruit the nation’s most elite student-athletes, build a better student-athlete once they arrive on The Flats and, ultimately, win! To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S TENNIS
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team has competed under the direction of head coach Kenny Thorne since the 1998-99 season. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 17 times. Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_MTEN) and Instagram. For more information on Tech men’s tennis, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
