VCU tennis coach Kostin retiring after 39-year career
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Paul Kostin, whose 1,179 victories in 39 seasons as a tennis coach rank second in NCAA history, Tuesday announced his retirement as VCU’s men’s and women’s tennis coach.
Kostin took over the men’s program at VCU in 1990 after nine seasons at his alma mater, Arkansas-Little Rock. After winning just 13 of 59 matches in the three years prior to his arrival, the Rams went 22-5 in his first season. In 1993, they began a streak of NCAA Tournament appearances that lasted through the 2008 season.
He took over the women’s team at VCU in 2001 and guided the Rams to 38 combined NCAA Tournament appearances and 29 conference championships.
In 2000, VCU won five consecutive matches in the NCAA Tournament before losing 4-0 in the national championship match to Stanford. Kostin was named the national coach of the year that season by the United States Professional Tennis Association.
