The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Mourns David Kent

November 4, 2015

Texas Tennis Hall of Famer Dave Kent passed away on Wednesday, November 3. He was 80.

Kent was born on October 30, 1935 in Perryton, Texas to Charley and Juanita Kent. He graduated from Amarillo High School where he was a standout multi-sport athlete. Following high school, he attended Texas Tech on the first tennis scholarship ever awarded there.

He taught and coached at Amarillo High School from 1958-60 and Midland High School from 1960-69 prior to joining the collegiate ranks. He ranks among the top 20 all-time NCAA Division men’s tennis coaches in career victories with a 516-223 overall record at A&M and West Texas A&M (formerly West Texas State), combined over 27 seasons. He was the 9th coach in history to score more than 500 Division I-A victories. Kent was the Southwest Region and SWC Coach of the Year (1994) and was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame (1998).