The University of Arkansas made a controversial decision to cut the tennis program last month, with the rise of NIL and the evolving college sports landscape. The school wants to reallocate funds more towards revenue-generating sports like football and basketball. They showed their inability to finance tennis at a level where they can compete in the Southeastern Conference.
Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek recently had a meeting with former coach Robert Cox. In his latest appearance for Best of Arkansas Sports, Cox revealed what she said in that meeting regarding the future of Arkansas tennis, as the men’s and women’s tennis programs will be discontinued after the spring of the 2025-26 season.
“We’re not going away,” Cox told BoAS. “I just wanted to make him aware that tennis players are problem solvers. That’s the way we’re wired. It’s a gladiator sport and win or die, we’re going to stay in the arena as long as we can.”
A group of Arkansas alumni and tennis program supporters has come up with a $5 million plan to save/resurrect the program. This is double the amount the University of Arkansas said it needed to finance the men’s and women’s tennis program annually. Former men’s tennis coach Tom Pucci said:
“There’s so much old Arkansas that really truly appreciates the tennis program. I don’t think that the athletic director or the athletic administration ever realized this, and it’s sure coming out.”
One of the top supporters of Arkansas tennis is Jack Lankford from Little Rock. He played for the program from 1991-95 and lettered twice.
Arkansas Tennis HC Shocked to Learn About Facing the Axe
When the University of Arkansas shared the news about discontinuing the tennis programs, the entire SEC was shocked after a program with around $200 million in revenue decided to drop a notable program.
Even men’s head coach Jay Udwadia, when the school first dropped the news to him and women’s coach Tucker Clary about the future of the program.
“My initial reaction was, ‘That’s funny. April fools, right?’” Udwadia said in a phone interview with Front Office Sports. “[AD Hunter Yurachek] was like, “No, I’m sorry, that’s what it is.’ And so Tucker and I were really shocked.”
Apart from Arkansas, there are at least 20 NCAA teams in the nation, including many of them in Division I, that have been cut this season. North Dakota and Saint Louis are dropping both men’s and women’s tennis programs, while Illinois State would discontinue men’s tennis.
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