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Frank X. Brennan Jr.
With an astounding 21-year record of 510 wins and only 50 losses, Stanford University coach Frank X. Brennan Jr. (b. 1942) established a hallmark in women’s collegiate tennis that may never be surpassed.
Raised in New Jersey, Brennan was introduced to tennis by his father, Frank Sr., who coached the young Billie Jean King. After attending Indiana University, where he played on the men’s tennis team, Brennan founded one the nation’s first summer tennis camps. He began his career at Stanford in the 1979-80 academic year.
Twice recognized by the ITA as Coach of the Decade, Brennan developed some of the finest collegiate and future professional players in the country, including nine NCAA singles champions. His Cardinal teams won a record six consecutive national championships, and 10 national titles overall. Universally admired for his unwavering ethical standards, Brennan has served as a model for collegiate coaches nationwide.
Since his retirement in 2000, his legacy has lived on in the coaching careers of many of his former players, as well as with his son Frank Brennan III, who followed in his father’s great footsteps.
Raised in New Jersey, Brennan was introduced to tennis by his father, Frank Sr., who coached the young Billie Jean King. After attending Indiana University, where he played on the men’s tennis team, Brennan founded one the nation’s first summer tennis camps. He began his career at Stanford in the 1979-80 academic year.
Twice recognized by the ITA as Coach of the Decade, Brennan developed some of the finest collegiate and future professional players in the country, including nine NCAA singles champions. His Cardinal teams won a record six consecutive national championships, and 10 national titles overall. Universally admired for his unwavering ethical standards, Brennan has served as a model for collegiate coaches nationwide.
Since his retirement in 2000, his legacy has lived on in the coaching careers of many of his former players, as well as with his son Frank Brennan III, who followed in his father’s great footsteps.
Lori McNeil
Inspired by her mother’s love of the game, Lori McNeil (b. 1963) spent most of her formative years on the tennis court, growing into a champion. McNeil honed her skills at Houston’s MacGregor Park alongside her close friend Zina Garrison, guided by former American Tennis Association champion John Wilkerson.
An All-American at Oklahoma State University, McNeil went pro in 1984. Two years later she reached the USTA Top 10 in singles, and climbed as high as No. 9 in the world rankings. She also represented her country on the U.S. Fed Cup and Wightman Cup teams.
With her classic serve-and-volley game, McNeil captured 32 career doubles titles, including the mixed doubles championship at the French Open in 1988. She also scored a stunning first-round victory over defending champion Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1994, eventually reaching the semifinals.
Retiring from the tour in 2002, McNeil was named a USTA high peformance coach and was appointed assistant coach to the U.S. Olympic team in 2004, continuing to serve as a mentor and inspiration to a new generation of tennis players.
An All-American at Oklahoma State University, McNeil went pro in 1984. Two years later she reached the USTA Top 10 in singles, and climbed as high as No. 9 in the world rankings. She also represented her country on the U.S. Fed Cup and Wightman Cup teams.
With her classic serve-and-volley game, McNeil captured 32 career doubles titles, including the mixed doubles championship at the French Open in 1988. She also scored a stunning first-round victory over defending champion Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1994, eventually reaching the semifinals.
Retiring from the tour in 2002, McNeil was named a USTA high peformance coach and was appointed assistant coach to the U.S. Olympic team in 2004, continuing to serve as a mentor and inspiration to a new generation of tennis players.
Madge 'Bunny' Vosters
Unmatched in her will to win, Madge Vosters (1919-1999) combined grace and athleticism with unparalleled sportsmanship in a tennis career that spanned a lifetime. A nationally ranked junior player from Pennsylvania, Vosters went on to play three sports at Ursinus College — field hockey, basketball and tennis.
Possessing great accuracy and “a nearly unretrievable drop shot,” Vosters broke into the USTA Top 10 in 1942, impressing the crowds at Forest Hills with a beautifully fought match against Patricia Todd. In 1949, Vosters was awarded the prestigious USTA Service Bowl.
Vosters shared her love of the game with her family, and teamed with daughters Gretchen and Nina to win a record 26 national mother-daughter titles. A pioneering competitor on the USTA senior circuit, she dominated the national grass court championships throughout the 1980s. Further demonstrating her racket wizardry, she also won 14 national squash titles.
Celebrated for her tireless dedication to promoting tennis on all levels, particularly through the Delaware Foundation for Physical Education, Vosters is remembered as one of the games most gracious ambassadors.
Possessing great accuracy and “a nearly unretrievable drop shot,” Vosters broke into the USTA Top 10 in 1942, impressing the crowds at Forest Hills with a beautifully fought match against Patricia Todd. In 1949, Vosters was awarded the prestigious USTA Service Bowl.
Vosters shared her love of the game with her family, and teamed with daughters Gretchen and Nina to win a record 26 national mother-daughter titles. A pioneering competitor on the USTA senior circuit, she dominated the national grass court championships throughout the 1980s. Further demonstrating her racket wizardry, she also won 14 national squash titles.
Celebrated for her tireless dedication to promoting tennis on all levels, particularly through the Delaware Foundation for Physical Education, Vosters is remembered as one of the games most gracious ambassadors.
Stephanie Tolleson
Taking up tennis at age 10, Stephanie Tolleson (b. 1956) went on to play a major role off the court in developing women’s tennis as a worldwide phenomenon. Nationally ranked as a junior, Tolleson earned a full athletic scholarship to Trinity University, a rare occurrence prior to the implementation of Title IX. She captured the intercollegiate singles title as a freshman in 1975, and helped her team win back-to-back national championships in 1975 and 1976. Turning pro in 1976, she played three seasons of World Team Tennis and competed twice at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
Joining the business side of the game in 1979, Tolleson spent two formative years with the WTA, then began a 25-year career with sports marketing giant International Management Group (IMG), founded by Mark McCormack. She quickly rose up the ranks into client management, representing the world’s top players. Promoted to Senior Corporate Vice President, Tolleson oversaw all aspects of IMG’s global tennis division.
She capped her remarkable career by brokering Sony Ericsson’s $88 million title sponsorship of the WTA Tour in 2005, the largest sponsorship ever in women’s sports.
Joining the business side of the game in 1979, Tolleson spent two formative years with the WTA, then began a 25-year career with sports marketing giant International Management Group (IMG), founded by Mark McCormack. She quickly rose up the ranks into client management, representing the world’s top players. Promoted to Senior Corporate Vice President, Tolleson oversaw all aspects of IMG’s global tennis division.
She capped her remarkable career by brokering Sony Ericsson’s $88 million title sponsorship of the WTA Tour in 2005, the largest sponsorship ever in women’s sports.
2006 Hall of Fame Inductions
People Who Changed The Game
In 2006, we inducted 3 incredible women and 1 impactful gentleman into the Hall of Fame. Each of their legacies has created a lasting impact on the sport of tennis and will for the rest of time.
Inductees
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