below Dave Snyder’s photo is the link to Texassports.com remembrance of Dave Snyder

The letter below was found in the Stark Center archives.

Jim Bayless says;

Few athletes or coaches in any sport can match Snyder’saccomplishments throughout his stellar career spanning five decades.

Hitchhiking from his native Kansas as an incoming freshman at UT in 1952,Coach Snyder went on to help his teams win three successive SouthwestConference championship titles (1954-56). As team captain, he also won the SWCdoubles championship in 1956. He was ranked No. 22 in the world at one point inhis career and No. 10 in the world in doubles. At one match during Snyder’s loftytennis career, he beat Australian star Neale Fraser — a former orld No. 1 tennisplayer.

But it was as a coach that Snyder’s impact on the sport's history was most stunning. After 14 seasons as head coach at the University of Arizona, Dave returned to his alma mater in 1972 as the third coach ever at UT, succeeding theretiring Wilmer Allison, to begin his spectacular 28-year run, producing more All-Americans and stars on the world stage than one can count.

In 1972, Snyder was named the 3rd coach ever at the University of Texas,replacing the retiring Wilmer Allison. At UT, Coach Snyder’s teams won nineconference titles, including the first three Big 12 titles, and qualified for NCAAchampionship play in 22 of his 28 seasons.  His teams compiled an impressivenumber of dual-match victories—536 (represents 75% of dual-matchesplayed)—during his time at UT. 

When Snyder retired, he was ranked second among tennis coaches with anall-time victory total of 697 match wins.  His consistency as a head coach led tohim being named the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association’s National Coachof the Year in 1985.  He retired in 2000 as the winningest active NCAA Division Imen’s tennis coach and ranked No. 2 on the all-time victories list with his 697career wins. He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall ofFame in 2001. Snyder is also enshrined in the University of Texas Hall of Honor,the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame.

Sorry to hear.  A good man!  A good soul!  A quiet soul!  Dave Snyder, Dave Woods, James Blackwood, and myself – we all started in the same year 1972.  We even shared a large office in Gregory Gym for a short spell until Belmont was completed.

Take care!  Be well and inspired!

Rodney Page

Life Coach/Consultant

“A Life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” ~ Jackie Robinson

DAVE SNYDER: 1934-2023

Beloved UT men’s tennis coach leaves a legacy of excellence

Kirk Bohls

Austin American-Statesman USA TODAY NETWORK

Longtime Texas men’s tennis coach Dave Snyder died early Saturday morning after a long bout with heart disease. He was 88.

Snyder, a native of Wichita, Kan., left a terrific legacy at UT, where he not only played on three consecutive Southwest Conference tennis championship teams from 1954 to 1956 but ranked No. 2 in all-time victories with 697 career wins in college tennis.

He coached 16 All-Americans at Texas, including three-time All-American and later Wimbledon finalist Kevin Curren, Steve Denton, Gary Plock and Steve Bryan. Curren, who won the NCAA singles championship in 1979 before turning pro, beat both world No. 1 John McEnroe and No. 3 Jimmy Connors to reach the Wimbledon finals in 1985.

“The thing I loved so much about my dad was the way he lived his life with such integrity and kindness,” his daughter, Allison Snyder Daily, told the American-Statesman on Sunday. “He had his sense of humor to the very end, and it was really beautiful. He was an amazing dad and a beautiful human being who was loved by so many.”

Daily said her father was looking forward to watching the Kansas State-Texas football game Saturday but died a few hours before kickoff. After the Longhorns hung on for a 33-30 win in overtime, a number of Snyder’s players started a text chain and knew exactly whom to credit for the victory. ‘THAT was coach,’ several wrote.

Snyder is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Doug; Daily and her two sons, Burke and Rider Daily.

Snyder served as Texas’ head coach from 1973, when he succeeded the legendary Wilmer Allison, until his retirement in 2000. He coached for 28 seasons at Texas and 14 at Arizona. He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2001.

Snyder’s teams claimed nine conference championships, including the first three in the Big 12, and reached NCAA championship play in 22 of his 28 seasons. The Longhorns won 75% of their dual matches under Snyder.

‘I was very fortunate to get to talk to him 10 days ago,’ Curren said from Durban, South Africa. ‘I had the opportunity to share what an impact he had on my life. He took a chance on a young, skinny kid from South Africa, and he changed the entire course of my life. He was only the third head coach ever at the school. He was a true icon of the Texas tennis program.’

Snyder also was inducted into the UT Hall of Honor, the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame and the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame.

Snyder was alert enough to speak with great friend Eddie Reese, the UT men’s swimming coach, the night before he died at the Arbour at Westminster Manor Nursing Home in Austin.

“He lived with grace and honor,” Daily said. “He had been ill for a while, and he was ready to go.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Melvin Pat Patterson

In 1952 he hitched hike from Windfield, Kansas to Austin. Had a tryout got some kind of scholarship. Hitchhiked back to Kansas. Got his clothes and hitchhike back to Austin Great student. My favorite memory is when long time coach retired. It was summer time. I was the swim coach. Wife’s name is Nancy He was coaching in Arizona. I called to tell him about opening. A woman answered the phone. I said “NANCY”. She said yes. Let me talk to David. She told me that he was at the store. So I said “tell him the Tennis coaching job came open today “. She said Ok and hung up. He called me the next day “Pat you really screwed up this time “. I am coaching Tennis in Aspen, Colorado this summer. I rented my house to the new AD and his wife Nancy

Charlette Smith

What a man Coach was. Loved him… he will be missed

Jeff Olsen

Coach Snyder was a great man.

Many people know that he and Eddie Reese had a lunchtime racquetball rivalry. But not many know the award they transferred to the winner’s door was a Congressional Gold Medal presented to UT swimmer and assistant coach Kr…

George Machock

• Prayers for him and his family and friends.

Jason Black

Great man!

Jeff Olsen

Coach Snyder was a great man.

Many people know that he and Eddie Reese had a lunchtime racquetball rivalry. But not many know the award they transferred to the winner’s door was a Congressional Gold Medal presented to UT swimmer and assistant coach Kris Kirchner. (Kris, who almost definitely would have won a gold medal in the 400 free relay, didn’t want the award.)

Just another example of the understated greatness that thrives throughout the UT athletics program.