Legendary
Elon University tennis coach Tom Parham was inducted into the
Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame May 23 in ceremonies held at the University of Georgia during the NCAA
Tennis Championships. The 11-member class consists of
eight players, two coaches and one contributor.
Parham, at right in photo with former athletics director Alan White, guided the Phoenix men’s tennis team for 19 seasons (1986-2004)
and the women’s squad for four campaigns (2001-04). His men’s teams
compiled a 279-115 record (.708) at Elon, including a 97-19 ledger
(.836) versus league competition. He retired at the conclusion of the
2003-04 campaign with a 597-183 career slate (.765) for his 38 seasons
as a head college men’s tennis coach.
Parham spent his first 19 years as the head coach at Atlantic Christian
College (now Barton College) in Wilson, N.C., where he guided the
program to NAIA Division I national titles in 1979 and 1984. He won a
third NAIA Division I title with the Phoenix in 1990. His Elon teams
captured 11 consecutive conference titles, including eight-straight
South Atlantic Conference crowns, from 1987-1997.
Elon teams advanced to the National Tournament in each of those 11
seasons, capturing five district titles during that span. From
1987-1991, Parham’s teams did not drop a conference match, posting a
34-0 record during that span. In his time as a head coach, the 1963
Atlantic Christian graduate and Burlington, N.C., resident was named
National Coach of the Year four times. He was named NAIA District 26
Coach of the Year four times and conference coach of the year six times
while at Elon.
Under his tutelage, 17 Elon players were named All-Americans, nine
earned Academic All-American status, seven were named conference MVP
and two earned NAIA District 26 MVP. Altogether, Parham’s teams claimed
30 consecutive winning seasons at one point in time, appeared in 28
national tournaments and captured 22 conference crowns while he amassed
45 Coach of the Year awards.
The ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame marks his sixth such induction.
Parham has also been inducted into the Atlantic Christian
College/Barton College, Elon University, NAIA, South Atlantic
Conference and Wilson County Sports Halls of Fame.
While at Elon, Parham held the titles of associate professor in health
and physical education (1985-2004), assistant director of athletics
(1986-1991), associate director of athletics (1991-99) and director of
tennis operations (1999-2004). He has also received the Elon Medallion
and three National Community Service Awards.