Georgia women’s tennis coach Jeff Wallace picked up his 800th win in pursuit of more titles

Athens Georgia women’s tennis coach Jeff Wallace had a milestone 800th victory for the Bulldogs beat Missouri 4-0 on Sunday

Wallace reflects on the achievement GeorgiaDogs.com author John Frierson earlier this week noted his humble beginnings in Athens some 38 years ago Frierson’s profound work

You start out, you get your first job, you’re excited and you want to build something special, said Wallace, who is from Portland, Ore.

You take over a team that had never been nationally ranked and had a losing record the year before and you go, Well, this is an opportunity to build something special in one of America’s greatest college towns, Wallace said. It’s an amazing place and I’m pinching myself that I’ve only had one job and been able to stay here this long. It’s been an awesome journey.

UGA has ensured that Wallace has had some of the most elite recruiting facilities in the nation, in addition to strong in-state recruiting, most of which benefit all of the Bulldogs’ programs.

More than $30 million has been poured into Georgia’s tennis facilities over the past five years, including a $26.7 million interior renovation scheduled for completion in December.

With two NCAA championships (1994, 2000) and four USA/ITA Indoor titles (1994, 1995, 2002, 2019), Wallace has what it takes to compete for a third NCAA title.

Wallace is the nation’s winningest active women’s tennis head coach, and his 800 wins are second only to former Indiana coach Lin Loring, who had 846 wins over 44 seasons.

You never really want it to be about you, it’s about the University of Georgia, Wallace told Frierson. It’s about the athletic department, women’s tennis and mostly all these great players that have come through this program.

Wallace himself came through UGA, though his career began at Utah. In fact, Wallace became a transfer before it was fashionable, transitioning to George for the final two years of his college career.

It was always a dream to be able to play at a school like this and then coach at your alma mater, that in itself is super special,” Wallace said in a GeorgiaDogs.com story. I feel very fortunate to have spent my entire career here at a school that I absolutely love.

Fifth-year UGA player Meg Kowalski explained how special it is to be a part of Wallace’s 800th win.

It’s so incredible and such an honor to be on a team that’s part of the 800 like it was for the players who were there 700 or 600, Kowalski told Frierson after last Sunday’s game.

He is so deserving of all of this and he really built this program. It is incredible to see him continue to achieve such milestones.

Well. The No. 6 Georgia women’s team is off to a 9-3 start this season and next plays at Kentucky on Friday at noon.

Win No. 800 results

Doubles results

1. #28 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) def. Inah Canete/Mae Canete (MIZ) 6-22.

2. #30 Meg Kowalski/Mell Reasco (UGA) def. Emelie Schwarte/Andrea Artimedi (MIZ) 6-03.

3. Anastasia Stop/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) vs. Laura Masic/Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) 4-3, draw

Singles result

1. #6 Leah Ma (UGA) def. Mae Canete (MIZ) 6-2, 6-12.

2. #18 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) vs. #117 Laura Masic (MIZ) 6-1, 5-3, draw3.

3. #76 Mell Reasco (UGA) def. Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) 6-2, 6-34.

4. #78 Anastasia Stop (UGA) def. Inah Canete (MIZ) 6-3, 6-15.

5. #112 Meg Kowalski (UGA) vs. Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) 6-4, 3-1, draw

6. Guillermina Grant (UGA) vs. Andrea Artimedi (MIZ) 6-3, 5-2, draw