The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has recognized four Kentucky Wildcats for their exceptional contributions during the 2023 season. Cedric Kauffmann, head coach of the University of Kentucky men’s tennis team, was named Ohio Valley Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year for the second time in his coaching career. Matthew Gordon was recognized as Ohio Valley Assistant Coach of the Year, making him the first Kentucky assistant coach to win the award multiple times. Meanwhile, Liam Draxl claimed the title of Ohio Valley Senior Player of the Year, and Joshua Lapadat was awarded the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award.
Kauffmann led Kentucky to an impressive 27-5 record during the 2023 season, as well as an SEC Tournament Championship, an appearance in the semifinals at ITA Indoors, and a spot in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament. With a career record of 208-114, Kauffmann has coached the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances during his 11 years as head coach. Gordon, on the other hand, just completed his fifth season with Kentucky, having helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his five seasons. He has also coached four ITA All-Americans, including Draxl and Alafia Ayeni this season.
Draxl, the team captain and 2021 ITA National Player of the Year, was named Kentucky’s first Ohio Valley Senior Player of the Year in almost a decade. With a singles record of 19-8 and a doubles record of 20-8, Draxl was hailed an ITA All-American in singles for the third straight season. Lapadat was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award after a successful junior season that saw him win a combined record of 23-4, earn a place in the SEC All-Tournament Team, and lead his team to their second-ever title.
This marks the first season in which Kentucky has been awarded both the Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year awards since the ITA began conferring regional awards in 2001. Head to head on the Wildcats women’s side, Kentucky’s Lesedi Jacobs was a 2023 ITA All-American honoree and Ohio Valley region Senor Player of the Year.
