Chuck Willenborg, a former junior and NCAA champion, quickly turned the Johns Hopkins tennis program into one of the best in the nation. The winningest coach in the history of the men's program, he also served as the Director of Tennis from 2011 to 2014. In December of 2012, Willenborg was named the USTA/ITA National Campus QuickStart Provider of the Year for his work with both the QuickStart and 10-and-Under Tennis programs in Baltimore County. He also ranks second in the history of the JHU women's program with 91 career wins.
Since taking over the program in 2005, the Johns Hopkins men's team has amassed 264 wins (264-73 • .783). The Blue Jays' success in the Centennial Conference has been even more impressive as they have gone 129-3 (.977) since 2005 and won 84 straight conference matches from April 2006 to March 2016. During Willenborg's tenure, Hopkins has won 14 Centennial Conference titles and have made 14 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including four quarterfinals appearances.
During his tenure, the Blue Jays have produced six Centennial Conference Players of the Year, one Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, one ITA National Rookie of the Year, one CoSIDA Academic All-American, 32 ITA All-Americans, 88 all-conference selections and 84 ITA Scholar-Athletes as well as numerous nationally ranked singles players and doubles teams. In addition, JHU has sent 16 singles players and 10 doubles teams to the NCAA Championships. Â
Prior to Willenborg's arrival, the men's team had never been ranked nationally or ranked higher than 16th in the Atlantic South region. By the end of his first season, the men were ranked 10th in the region and just 16 months after he was hired, the Blue Jays earned their first ever national ranking (30th). After falling out of the rankings early in the spring of 2006, the program regained its national ranking in May 2006 and has appeared in every poll since.
In six seasons as head coach of the Blue Jay women, Willenborg won a then-record 91 matches and posted a .758 winning percentage. He led Hopkins to four straight Centennial Conference titles, including the program's first in 2007. The Blue Jays made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive Sweet 16 trips in Willenborg's final three seasons. His players earned 22 All-Centennial Conference selections (12 singles, 10 doubles) and five ITA All-America accolades (1 single, 4 doubles). He also coached the 2007 Centennial Conference Player of the Year.
Willenborg brings outstanding amateur, collegiate and professional experience to Hopkins. His amateur career was highlighted by a USTA National Clay Court Championship and a top-5 national junior ranking. He 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 Bruins win ITA National Indoor and NCAA Championships in 1984. He completed his college career at the University of Miami as a top-25 singles player.
In 1989 Willenborg joined the staff at Miami, where he served as an assistant men's coach for six seasons. During that time, Miami was consistently a top-10 team and Willenborg coached two top-ranked singles players. In 1996, he 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, including a win over top-ranked UCLA in the season-finale, and a top-10 national ranking.
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 his stay, while the women earned their first ever Sunshine State Conference Championship and a third-place finish - their highest ever - at the NCAA Championships.
A 1987 graduate of Miami with a degree in physical education, Willenborg earned a master's in sports management from the U.S. Sports Academy in 1997 and a master's in computer science from Barry in 2000. He resides in Fork, Maryland, with his wife Amity and children Russell, Madeline and Asher.
Updated August 2019
