ATHENS, Ga. – Legendary Elon University tennis coach Tom Parham will be inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame Wednesday in ceremonies held at the University of Georgia during NCAA Tennis Championship week activities. The 11-member class consists of eight players, two coaches and one contributor.
Parham guided the Phoenix men's tennis team for 19 seasons (1986-2004) and the women’s squad for four campaigns (2001-04). His men’s teams compiled a 279-115 record (.708) at Elon, including a 97-19 ledger (.836) versus league competition. He retired at the conclusion of the 2003-04 campaign with a 597-183 career slate (.765) for his 38 seasons as a head college men’s tennis coach.
Parham spent his first 19 years as the head coach at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, N.C., where he guided the program to NAIA Division I national titles in 1979 and 1984. He won a third NAIA Division I title with the Phoenix in 1990. His Elon teams captured 11 consecutive conference titles, including eight-straight South Atlantic Conference crowns, from 1987-1997.
Elon teams advanced to the National Tournament in each of those 11 seasons, capturing five district titles during that span. From 1987-1991, Parham's teams did not drop a conference match, posting a 34-0 record during that span. In his time as a head coach, the 1963 Atlantic Christian graduate and Burlington, N.C., resident was named National Coach of the Year four times. He was named NAIA District 26 Coach of the Year four times and conference coach of the year six times while at Elon.
Under his tutelage, 17 Elon players were named All-Americans, nine earned Academic All-American status, seven were named conference MVP and two earned NAIA District 26 MVP. Altogether, Parham’s teams claimed 30 consecutive winning seasons at one point in time, appeared in 28 national tournaments and captured 22 conference crowns while he amassed 45 Coach of the Year awards.
The ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame marks his sixth such induction. Parham has also been inducted into the Atlantic Christian College/Barton College, Elon University, NAIA, South Atlantic Conference and Wilson County Sports Halls of Fame.
While at Elon, Parham held the titles of associate professor in health and physical education (1985-2004), assistant director of athletics (1986-1991), associate director of athletics (1991-99) and director of tennis operations (1999-2004). He has also received the Elon Medallion and three National Community Service Awards. He and his wife, Margaret, have a pair of sons, Tee and Dan.
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