Player Bio: Chuck Willenborg

Chuck Willenborg

Position:
Head Coach

Experience:
Fifth Season

In coaching changes, timing is everything. When Johns Hopkins began looking for a new head men's and women's tennis coach, the perfect candidate was in its own backyard.

Chuck Willenborg, a former junior and NCAA champion, is an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Professional Studies in Business and Education. He became the head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams in July of 2004 and under his guidance the Blue Jays have quickly made their mark at the national level. Willenborg guided the men's team to its first-ever Centennial Conference title and a 13-2 record in 2005 before upgrading the schedule in 2006 to better position the Blue Jays for a chance at a selection to the NCAA Tournament. He guided Joe Vasoontara to the 2005 Centennial Conference singles title.

The men's team spent the entire 2006 season ranked among the top-10 teams in the region and entered the Centennial Conference Championships as the number three seed and ranked eighth in the region. A 4-3 upset of second-seeded (and number seven regionally-ranked) Haverford landed the Blue Jays in the Centennial title match and likely secured their at-large berth to the NCAAs. Hopkins, in its first-ever trip to the NCAA Championships, fell in the first round to seventh-ranked Mary Washington.

The 2007 season was the most successful in school history, as the Hopkins men won its second Centennial Conference title with an undefeated record of 8-0. The Blue Jays won a school-record 15 consecutive matches, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs and finishing with a 19-3 record. Hopkins finished the season ranked 11th nationally and second in the Atlantic South region.

Willenborg has had equal succeess on the women's side. The 2007 season was a record-breaking season for the women as well. The Hopkins women won its first ever Centennial Conference title after going 10-0 in conference play. The Blue Jays then made their first ever appearance in the NCAA Championships, losing in the second round. The Blue Jay women finished with a 17-4 record overall.

In 2006, the Blue Jays went 13-5 overall and earned a spot in the Centennial Conference semifinals. The Jays lost to Swarthmore, ranked #17 nationally. In his first season at the helm in 2005, Willenborg guided Hopkins to a 13-3 overall mark and an 8-2 mark in conference play. The eight Centennial Conference wins was a school record.

He brings outstanding amateur, collegiate and professional experience to the head coach position. His amateur career was highlighted by a USTA National Clay Court Championship and a top-5 National Junior ranking. Willenborg was selected to the prestigious Junior Davis squad and competed at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

In 1982 Willenborg accepted a full scholarship to UCLA, where he helped the tennis team win an NCAA Championship. Willenborg completed his college career at the University of Miami as a Top-25 singles player.

In 1989 he joined the staff at Miami, where he served as an assistant men's tennis coach for six seasons. During that time, Miami was consistently a top-10 team, and Willenborg coached two top-ranked singles players. In 1996 Willenborg took the position as assistant tennis coach at Pepperdine University, where he won two consecutive West Coast Conference Championships and was promoted to interim head coach for the 1997 season. The team completed the season with a 22-7 record and a top-10 national ranking. The season was highlighted with a win over top-ranked UCLA in the final match of the year.

Willenborg also served as the assistant men's and women's coach at perennial Division II power Barry University. The men's team was an NCAA finalist both seasons of Willenborg's stay, while the women earned their first ever Sunshine State Conference Championship and a third-place finish - their highest ever - at the NCAA Championships.

Willenborg earned his undergraduate degree in physical education from the University of Miami, a master's degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy, and a master's from Barry University in computer science. He resides in Fork, Maryland, with his wife Amity and children Russell, Madeline and Asher.