Kyle Spencer is entering his fifth season at SMU. He was named assistant men’s tennis coach in February 2013.
Spencer guided the Mustangs to the NCAA Tournament last season, reaching the Sweet Sixteen before falling to No. 9 Florida. The Mustangs finished with a record of 22-9 and a No. 22 national ranking.
The former Maryland head coach was voted the 2012 Wilson/ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year following the 2011-12 campaign. He was the first Maryland men's tennis head coach to win the award.
In 2011-12, Spencer guided senior Maros Horny and freshman Vlad Stefan to All-ACC honors, the first such honors for the Terps since 2002.
In 2010-11, Spencer guided the Terps' to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. They finished the season listed 39th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings.
In 2009-10, Spencer led Maryland to its best start to a season since 1986, despite having a relatively young roster. The Terps ended the season with a 13-13 dual record and reached as high as No. 62 in the ITA rankings.
Prior to coaching at Maryland, Spencer served as an assistant director of tennis for the Baylor Bears where he won the 2009 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year.
While at Baylor (2006-2009), Spencer helped coach the Bears to three Big 12 Championships, winning the conference title every year he was an assistant coach. Following the conference championship in 2007, the Bears reached the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament falling to the University of Illinois in a 4-3 final.
The Bears finished in the top 10 in each of the three seasons Spencer was on the coaching staff.
Following Baylor, Spencer served as an assistant coach at USC. Spencer helped lead the Trojans to their first Pac-10 title since the 1994 season and an NCAA Semifinal appearance in just his first season as an assistant coach. With his help, the 2004 squad finished the year ranked No. 4 in the ITA.
In addition, Spencer has coached on the ATP Tour, where one of his students, Robert Kendrick, made the second-highest jump on the tour for the 2006 season, jumping from No. 375 to 73 in a 10 month period.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Spencer had a successful collegiate career at USC.
Spencer and his partner George Bastl were named the 1997 ITA National Doubles Team of the Year, after reaching the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championship, and finishing the year as the nation's No. 1 ranked doubles team. While at USC, the Trojans twice made the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship and earned All-American honors. Spencer, a Pac-10 All-Academic selection, graduated from USC in 1998 with a degree in International Relations.
Spencer represented his native Great Britain in doubles with partner Barry Cowan at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Throughout his pro career on the ATP Tour, Spencer won seven pro titles and reached as high as No. 126 in doubles.
Following his pro career, Spencer returned to his alma mater and served as an assistant for two years (2004-05). He coached the Trojans to the NCAA Final Four in 2004 where they were eliminated by the Baylor Bears.
Spencer is married to the former Kacie Arnold.
For lessons, e-mail Coach Spencer at kpspencer@smu.edu.
Kyle Spencer - Timeline
As a coach:
SMU - Assistant Coach 2013
Maryland - Head Coach 2009-12 - voted the 2012 Wilson/ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
Baylor - Assistant Coach 2006-09 - won 2009 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year, Big 12 Champions (2006-2009), 2007 Final Four
USC - Assistant Coach 2004-06 - Reached 2004 Final Four
As a player:
2000 Olympics (Sydney, Australia) - Represented Great Britain in doubles with Barry Cowan
July 17, 2000 - reached highest ATP doubles ranking (No. 126 in the world)
1997 - finished season ranked No. 1 in ITA doubles rankings, reached doubles NCAA National Championship match with George Bastl
1995-98 - Played at USC, was an All-American and Academic All-Pac-10
1995 - recruited by current SMU head coach Carl Neufeld to play at USC
