University of Tennessee Athletics
NCAA Doubles Champion Pat Harper Named Lady Vol Tennis Assistant Coach
October 14, 2026 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head women's tennis coach Alison Ojeda announced Wednesday the hiring of former Tennessee men's tennis standout Pat Harper as an assistant coach. Harper returns to Rocky Top after three years of professional tennis.
"I am very excited that Pat is joining our program as a coach," Ojeda said of her new hire. "There's something incredible special to me about being a Tennessee Vol, and Pat shares that same joy and commitment to excellence. He knows what it takes to be a national champion in college tennis and he also knows what it takes to be a successful professional tennis player on tour."
"I am so excited to be coming back to Rocky Top, and to get to work alongside Alison and Martim [Prata]," Harper said. "It's a special feeling coming back to the place where I had so many great memories on and off the tennis court. Now, working with the women's team, I can share those experiences and that knowledge from the time I spent both here and on the pro tour.
"I am pumped to get going with the team," he said, "and to work hard to achieve our goals for this upcoming year and the years to come."
Harper, the 2021 NCAA Doubles Champion alongside Adam Walton, was named an All-American in doubles in each of his final three full seasons on Rocky Top. He sports a career 96-38 doubles record, good for the 11th-most doubles victories in school history.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Harper aided Tennessee to four consecutive NCAA Super Regionals, (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) as well as two Final Four appearances in 2021 and 2022. He also contributed to the team's SEC Tournament title in 2021.
Harper also aided the Vols to a runner-up finish at the 2022 ITA National Indoor Team Championships.
On the pro circuit, Harper currently ranks No. 160 in the world in doubles, and sports a career high ranking of No. 115, which he earned Jan. 12, 2026. He has won nine professional doubles titles, including six ATP Challenger crowns. He's competed on the professional circuit alongside other program greats like two-time SEC Player of the Year and four-time All-American Johannus Monday as well as four-time All-SEC honoree and two-time All-American Shunsuke Mitsui.
"Both his collegiate and professional accomplishments are incredibly important to our program," Ojeda said, "because our roster aspires to be both a national champion and a successful pro tennis player."
Harper played all five of his seasons at Tennessee alongside teammate Martim Prata, who joined the Lady Vols' staff ahead of the 2025-26 season. The two standouts now join a Lady Vol Staff helmed by Ojeda, who herself was an All-American for the Lady Vols during her playing career from 1998 to 2002.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Pat back to Rocky Top," Prata said of his long-time teammate. "Pat is a true VFL who has a tremendous love and passion for Tennessee. He is an All-American and doubles national champion, so he knows what it takes to compete and win at the highest level.
"Having won an SEC team championship alongside him, I know the kind of teammate, competitor, and person he is," Prata continued. "Pat understands the importance of building relationships and creating a culture where our student-athletes can thrive both on and off the court. His passion for Tennessee and his ability to connect with people make him a great addition to our staff. We couldn't be more excited to have him alongside us as we continue to strive for excellence."
"Pat is a very hard worker and possesses great energy on and off the court," Adam Walton said of his national championship doubles partner. "He will be a very pivotal part to the Lady Vol program. I am stoked to see him in this role and see how high the program can continue to climb with him onboard."
"We are so excited to have Pat Harper returning to Rocky Top," Tennessee's Executive Associate Athletics Director J.B. Bowling said. "Pat was not only a champion player, but he was the consummate teammate that made those around him better… Pat is a winner and will bring that attitude and experience to the next generation of Lady Vols."
"In regards to who he is as a human being, he's the type of person who we want our own children around," Ojeda praised. "He's an excellent example of what it means to be a respectful, empathetic and ambitious human."
"I am very excited that Pat is joining our program as a coach," Ojeda said of her new hire. "There's something incredible special to me about being a Tennessee Vol, and Pat shares that same joy and commitment to excellence. He knows what it takes to be a national champion in college tennis and he also knows what it takes to be a successful professional tennis player on tour."
"I am so excited to be coming back to Rocky Top, and to get to work alongside Alison and Martim [Prata]," Harper said. "It's a special feeling coming back to the place where I had so many great memories on and off the tennis court. Now, working with the women's team, I can share those experiences and that knowledge from the time I spent both here and on the pro tour.
"I am pumped to get going with the team," he said, "and to work hard to achieve our goals for this upcoming year and the years to come."
Harper, the 2021 NCAA Doubles Champion alongside Adam Walton, was named an All-American in doubles in each of his final three full seasons on Rocky Top. He sports a career 96-38 doubles record, good for the 11th-most doubles victories in school history.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Harper aided Tennessee to four consecutive NCAA Super Regionals, (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) as well as two Final Four appearances in 2021 and 2022. He also contributed to the team's SEC Tournament title in 2021.
Harper also aided the Vols to a runner-up finish at the 2022 ITA National Indoor Team Championships.
On the pro circuit, Harper currently ranks No. 160 in the world in doubles, and sports a career high ranking of No. 115, which he earned Jan. 12, 2026. He has won nine professional doubles titles, including six ATP Challenger crowns. He's competed on the professional circuit alongside other program greats like two-time SEC Player of the Year and four-time All-American Johannus Monday as well as four-time All-SEC honoree and two-time All-American Shunsuke Mitsui.
"Both his collegiate and professional accomplishments are incredibly important to our program," Ojeda said, "because our roster aspires to be both a national champion and a successful pro tennis player."
Harper played all five of his seasons at Tennessee alongside teammate Martim Prata, who joined the Lady Vols' staff ahead of the 2025-26 season. The two standouts now join a Lady Vol Staff helmed by Ojeda, who herself was an All-American for the Lady Vols during her playing career from 1998 to 2002.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Pat back to Rocky Top," Prata said of his long-time teammate. "Pat is a true VFL who has a tremendous love and passion for Tennessee. He is an All-American and doubles national champion, so he knows what it takes to compete and win at the highest level.
"Having won an SEC team championship alongside him, I know the kind of teammate, competitor, and person he is," Prata continued. "Pat understands the importance of building relationships and creating a culture where our student-athletes can thrive both on and off the court. His passion for Tennessee and his ability to connect with people make him a great addition to our staff. We couldn't be more excited to have him alongside us as we continue to strive for excellence."
"Pat is a very hard worker and possesses great energy on and off the court," Adam Walton said of his national championship doubles partner. "He will be a very pivotal part to the Lady Vol program. I am stoked to see him in this role and see how high the program can continue to climb with him onboard."
"We are so excited to have Pat Harper returning to Rocky Top," Tennessee's Executive Associate Athletics Director J.B. Bowling said. "Pat was not only a champion player, but he was the consummate teammate that made those around him better… Pat is a winner and will bring that attitude and experience to the next generation of Lady Vols."
"In regards to who he is as a human being, he's the type of person who we want our own children around," Ojeda praised. "He's an excellent example of what it means to be a respectful, empathetic and ambitious human."
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