| VCU Rams men's tennis | |
| University: | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Conference: | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Conference Short: | A10 |
| City: | Richmond |
| Stateabb: | VA |
| State: | Virginia |
| Coach: | Anthony Rossi |
| Tenure: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Thalhimer Tennis Center |
| Capacity: | 300 |
| Nickname: | VCU Rams |
| Ncaarunnerup: | 2000 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Conference Tournament: | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
The VCU Rams men's tennis team represents Virginia Commonwealth University. Under Coach Paul Kostin's direction, VCU has reached the NCAA tournament in 18 of the past 19 years and finished a season ranked among the top 25 Division I teams a total of 12 times.[1]
A 6 court facility that currently holds 300 people. It's located between Main and Cary Street in the heart of VCU's Monroe Park Campus, allowing easy access for the student-athletes from their classes and studies.[2]
The 2014-2020 six year capital plan calls for a 14 million dollar, state-of-the-art, modern Tennis center that will include 6 indoor courts, a spectator viewing space, and 12 outdoor courts.[3]
The Rams put together a remarkable run through the NCAA tournament in 2000 that culminated in VCU's first-ever appearance in a national championship match. The unseeded Rams strung together five consecutive victories, including wins over three of the nation's top 13 ranked programs, to set up a showdown with Stanford for the national title. VCU advanced to the “Sweet 16” with a victory over No. 13 Mississippi continued its Cinderella story by upsetting fourth-ranked Illinois in the quarterfinal round. The Rams reached the title match with a thrilling 4–3 victory over powerhouse Tennessee in the Final Four and received a final ranking of No. 9 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, at the time, the highest-ever for any VCU sport at the end of a season.[1] The record stood for 11 years until the men's basketball team finished with a final ranking of No. 6.
In 2019, the Rams announced that assistant coach Anthony Rossi would become the head coach of the men's team with former coach Paul Kostin entering a new role as VCU's director of tennis.[4] Kostin had served as the men's coach since 1991, and coached both the women's and men's tennis teams as of 2002. Kostin will continue to oversee the tennis program as a whole, but will focus his attention on the women's team with Rossi stepping into the men's head coach role.
2012–13 VCU Rams men's tennis team