Former Boise State men’s tennis head coach Greg Patton has been named for induction into the ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019.

Patton, one of two coaches in this year’s class responded to the announcement in typical Patton fashion saying, "Saint Peter has just welcomed me through the Pearly Gates of Tennis, I owe this heavenly award to all of my patron saints who are my supportive family, the gifted student athletes, and my athletic department brethren at UCSB, Cal State Bakersfield, UC Irvine, and primarily Boise State. They have illuminated and graced  my calling in collegiate coaching."

Patton stepped down as the men’s tennis head coach at Boise State in May of 2018 following a successful 22-year tenure with the Broncos. A member of the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame, he was named the NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1997, and earned ITA Region Coach of the Year honors five times (1994, 1997, 2004, 2012, and 2014). At the time of his retirement, his 808 career victories were the most of any active collegiate coach in the country. Patton’s teams won 24 conference tournament championships and appeared at the NCAA tournament 21 times – 16 at Boise State. Five Bronco student-athletes picked up All-America accolades under Patton’s tutelage, while five players earned six conference athlete of the year awards and 44 combined for 116 all-league accolades. His 37-year career spanned stints at UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and CSU Bakersfield. Patton is a two-time recipient of the USTA/NCAA National Community Service Award, earning the prestigious accolade in both 1997 and 2003. The highly-decorated coach is enshrined in the Halls of Fame for the Idaho Tennis Association (2013), USTA Intermountain Region (2015) and UC Irvine (2000). The former coach of the US Junior National Team (1984-87, 1998-2003), helping lead the National Boys’ 14s to the World Cup Championship in his final season, Patton was honored with the USTA Intermountain Tennis Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He was given the Keys to the City of Boise for his work in turning Boise State into a national tennis power. The 2019 ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon will take place on May 19 in Orlando, Fla. Patton and the members of the Class of 2019 will be honored on court before the start of the NCAA Men’s Team Finals later that afternoon.

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