One of the nation's top coaches, Manuel Diaz owns an impressive record
of 374-92 (.806) in his 17 seasons. His teams have played for the NCAA title
eight times, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002, and the Bulldogs
captured their first title of the Diaz era in 1999 and repeated in 2001.
In addition, they have reached the semifinals twice and quarterfinals four
times.
Diaz led Georgia to 11 consecutive national top five finishes from 1989 to `99, a feat no other school in the country can match. In fact, the Bulldogs'
average national rank at season's end over that period was 3.1 -- second only to Stanford nationally. Including the 2001 season, the Bulldogs' average final national ranking during Diaz' tenure is 5.3, trailing only UCLA (3.4) and Stanford (4.2).
Diaz coached John Isner and Antonio Ruiz to the 2005 NCAA Doubles Championship, the third for the Bulldogs. The duo also won the SEC Coaches' Indoor Tournament championship and were named All-Americans.
Diaz's Bulldogs won the program's first-ever triple crown of tennis in 2001, as the team won its second national title in three years, while Matias
Boeker won the NCAA singles crown and teamed with Travis Parrott for the
doubles championship. It was only the third time since 1977 that such a
feat had been accomplished.
Diaz has led Georgia to 10 regular season SEC titles in his 17 seasons to go along with four SEC Tournament titles. He was named
SEC Coach of the Year in 1989, 1995 and 2001.
Under Diaz, Georgia has had 23 different players earn 48 All-America
honors. This mark ranks tied for second behind Stanford for most All-Americans nationally in that time period. Diaz has also coached four out of five of Georgia's four-time All-Americans, including Al Parker (1988-91), Mike Sell (1992-95), Jamie Laschinger (1993-96), Steven Baldas (1995-98) and most recently Bo Hodge (2001-04).
Under Diaz, Georgia has been among the most nationally-televised collegiate
programs. The Bulldogs have had a player in the NCAA singles finals in 1991,
1992, 1993 and 2002 and appeared in the team final in 1997, 1998 and 1999, all
of which have been televised by ESPN. In 2005, Isner and Ruiz's doubles win was televised by The Tennis Channel. Georgia had a player in the team,
singles and doubles finals in 2001, but those matches were not televised.
Diaz is a respected and honored leader in collegiate tennis including
being selected as the Wilson/ITA National Coach-of-the Year in 1995 and
2001. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Hall of Fame in the fall
of 2000. For his outstanding contribution to tennis in his home country of Puerto
Rico, Diaz was inducted into the Puerto Rican Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998.
The Diaz family: Eric, Suzanne, Alex, Manuel, and Manuel III
WINNING TRADITION
CONTINUES IN THE DIAZ ERA
SEC
NCAA
Final
Year
W
L
Pct.
Finish
Finish
Ranking
1989
21
6
.778
1st
Finalist
No. 3
1990
21
5
.808
2nd
Quarterfinalist
No. 5
1991
27
3
.900
1st
Finalist
No. 2
1992
17
5
.773
3rd
Quarterfinalist
No. 4
1993
25
4
.862
1st
Finalist
No. 2
1994
17
6
.739
2nd
Quarterfinalist
No. 5
1995
27
2
.931
1st
Semifinalist
No. 2
1996
22
4
.846
1st
Semifinalist
No. 5
1997
23
4
.852
1st
Finalist
No. 2
1998
26
4
.867
2nd
Finalist
No. 3
1999
26
5
.839
t1st
Champion
No. 1
2000
17
11
.607
4th
Round of 32
No. 18
2001
28
1
.966
1st
Champion
No. 1
2002
28
4
.875
1st
Finalist
No. 2
2003
9
15
.375
10th
First Round
No. 23
2004
20
6
.769
3rd
Round of 16
No. 6
2005
20
7
.740
3rd
Quarterfinals
No. 7
Totals
374
92
.802
SEC CHAMPIONS: 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995,
1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 NCAA CHAMPIONS: 1999, 2001 NCAA FINALISTS: 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2002 AVERAGE FINAL NATIONAL RANKING: 5.3
DIAZ FACTS
College:
University of Georgia (1972-75)
Two-time All-American (1974-75)
Three-time All-SEC selection (1973-75)
Four-straight SEC team titles
Seven SEC individual titles
No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles in
1972,
No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in
1973,
No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles in
1974,
No. 1 doubles in 1975
Two-time winner of Southern Collegiate
Championships
in singles in 1973-74; Won 1973 doubles
title
Co-Captain of 1975 team that went 20-4,
Won SEC title,
Final National Ranking of No. 20
1974 team went 24-1, Won SEC title,
Final National Ranking of No. 19
1973 team went 19-1, Won SEC tile,
Final National Ranking of No. 17
1972 team went 28-1, Won SEC title,
Final National Ranking of No. 9
Professional:
Teaching Pro in Atlanta from 1978-81 and in Puerto Rico from 1981-82
Played professionally in the US, Europe, and South America after his collegiate years, earning an ATP ranking of approximately No. 250 with four wins over ATP Top 50 players (pro career cut short by injuries)
Current Profession:
1989-present
Univ. Georgia Tennis Coach
Asst. Coach at UGA from 1982-84;
Promoted to Associate Head Coach, 1985;
Team National Championships 1985, 1987;
Promoted to Head Coach, 1989
Other:
Captain, Puerto Rican Davis Cup
Team in 1992-1997
Two-time coach of Puerto Rican National
Team in Pan American Games
