1957-1973 –  COACH WILMER ALLISON

As a Tennis player for the Longhorns in the 1920s, Wilmer Allison was the National champion, only losing one set in his college career.

Allison was selected as a member of the UT Hall of Fame, The Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, the the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association Hall of Fame. In 1957 he was hired as head coach of the Longhorn tennis program. 4 Days after the Penick courts were renamed the Penick-Allison courts, Coach Allison passed away.

Wilmer Allison returned to the university in 1947 and served as Penick’s assistant until 1957. That year, he became the head tennis coach at the university, where he served until his retirement in 1972.

Here is a hilarious memo sent by Coach Wilmer Allison to the freshman class before the Orange-versus-White rival factions of the 1971 team to spur the team to higher performance. Team members cherish these special memories of playing for Texas under Allison’s guidance and leadership and with one another. The letter was sent to TLSN for sharing and safekeeping from Jim Bayless.

• He institutes a policy restricting athletic scholarships for tennis to players from Texas. 

• He is the 1927 Southwest Conference singles champion and the national collegiate singles champion.

• As Coach he develops 4 SWC team champions and 4 runners-up.

• Coaches his team to three single titles and one doubles title.

• In honor of Allison, the “Penick Courts” at the University of Texas are renamed the “Penick-Allison Courts” in 1977.

• He is inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Longhorn Hall of Honor.

• In 1963 he enters the national and international halls of fame.

In  Jack Kramer’s autobiography he says that “Wilmer Allison had the best forehand volley I ever saw”. 

Sammy Giammalva is a ITA All American and a Davis Cup participant. 

1957  29-1  Coach Wilmer Allison pending

Sam Giammalva is runner up in singles at the NCAA championship. Giammalva and Richard Keeton lose in the doubles semi-final round at the NCAA championship.

Team is ranked 3rd – 

1958 24-12 Coach Wilmer Allison pending

Sammy Giammalva struggles but recovers and the team wins the SWC championship and wins the singles and doubles championship. 

1959 28-8  Coach Wilmer Allison Pending

Richard Keeton was the number 1 man on the team . Team placed 2nd in the SWC with runner up positions in singles and doubles.

1959 -1960 30-6  Coach Wilmer Allison Pending

Texas finished 2nd in the SWC losing 4 matches to SMU and 2 to Rice. 

 Team is ranked 4th- There is still no  NCAA tournament to determine a national champion.

Neil Unterseher loses in the quarterfinals of the singles NCAA championship.

1960- 1961  33-3  Coach Wilmer Allison SWC champs

This was an outstanding team with great Leadership from  White and Neil Unterseher.  The Longhorns dominated the SWC members beating Rice 5-1, A & M 6-0, Texas Tech 6-0, and SMU 5-1.

SWC Champions

Team is ranked 13th nationally – no NCAA tournament

John White is an ITA All American

1961-1962 27-9   Coach Wilmer Allison Pending

 Team is ranked 13th nationally and 2nd in the  SWC. The team was led by Mac White and Neil Unterseher

1963 32-4   Coach Wilmer Allison 32-4  SWC Champs

Coach Penick says that Walters has no weaknesses. He even has more accolades for Jackie Kamrath. Allison says “the smartest tennis player I’ve ever coached….He’s a good tactician; he can think, both on and off the court.” He has all the shots and the brains.

Season started awful with losses to Pan American, Trinity, St. Edward, and the University of Corpus christi. Team finally got on court against SWC foes and barely won the championship over Rice. 

Team is ranked 24th nationally

1964 26-10  Coach Wilmer Allison pending

Team is ranked 8th nationally

Top of the Charts 1964

1965  24-12 Coach Wilmer Allison pending

David Nelson – a sophomore- shines this season.  Team finishes second in conference play with Bill Driscoll and Leo Laborde having a 4-2 single conference record.   In 5 years as Tennis Coach, Wilmer Allison has a 142-38 conference record and two SWC championships.   

1966- 24-12 Coach Wilmer Allison pending

Longhorns finished 3rd in the conference. 

Team is ranked 20th nationally – no NCAA tournament

TOPPING THE CHARTS 1966

1967- 28-8  Coach Wilmer SWC champions

Beat Baylor by one point to win the SWC championship. 

SWC Champions

Team is ranked 24th nationally

1968- 17-19  Coach Wilmer Allison – A rebuilding year 4th in SWC

 Topping the Charts

1969- 24-10 Coach Wilmer Allison-Pending

Team is ranked 13th nationally

1970- 20-16  Coach Wilmer Allison  Pending

Team is ranked 18th 

1971- 27-15  Coach Wilmer Allison 3rd in SWC

Wilmer Allison’s humorous memo

Here is a hilarious memo sent by Coach Wilmer Allison to the Orange-versus-White rival factions of the 1971 team to spur the team to higher performance.  Team members cherish these special memories of playing for Texas under Allison’s guidance and leadership and with one another.

Document Compliments of Jim Bayless

This year was a feast or famine.  There were no senior starters. They only lost one game in winning against 4 SWC opponents but lost all matches against two SWC opponents. 

The team is ranked 36th

1972- 29-13  Coach Wilmer Allison  3rd in Conference

 SWC Champions

The team is ranked 3rd  in the nation

Longhorns lost both the singles and doubles matches at the SWC meet.

The team is ranked 18th 

1973- 33-16  Coach Snyder Pending

Texas was 7-1 in SWC dual meets, but the Conference determined the standing on the number of individual matches won, and Texas’s 33-16 mark placed them 3rd in the Conference. Dan Nelson, the MVP, Ron Touchon, and Graham Wahling were the Longhorn top three seeds. Snyder said that this team played to its potential when they were 7-1.

Document compliments of Jim Bayless

 Team is ranked 11th