Legendary Georgia men’s tennis coach Manuel Diaz announced on Thursday that he will retire following the end of the 2023-24 season.
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When I was in school at UGA, Coach Diaz was a tennis player. I was in the bleachers on the hill above court 1 during the infamous streaker match. Being a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine allowed me to catch many weekday matches by walking over to the tennis courts. I had the opportunity to see players like McEnroe, Drew Evertt ( Chris's brother ), and several others. But more importantly, I got to see players like Manuel Diaz and other stars. Like the current football team, the tennis team featured competition amongst the team members, along with a strong bond among the team members. Court 1 players cheered on their teammates all the way down to court 6 during matches and that was true during practice as well. I loved being around Coach Magill and listening to his stories. From the little I have seen of Coach Diaz, he has carried on what Coach Magill had started, adding his own touch to that. When Coach Diaz was named Head Coach of the tennis team, I knew the team was in good hands because of what I knew he had learned from Coach Magill as well as the striving for excellence I saw in him as a player. Congratulations on your retirement, Coach Diaz. You have earned it. And, many many thanks for all you have given of yourself to the University of Georgia. You have made me proud to be an UGA graduate, starting when you were a player and through all the years of your coaching.
