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Kent Kinnear enters his second season as assistant coach with Brad Dancer's Illinios men's tennis team. Kinnear's presence and knowledge of the game has been very instrumental in continuing the Fighting Illini's reign at the top of the Big Ten conference and collegiate tennis.
"In addition to Kent's competitive background, he is a man of impeccable character," Dancer said. "He has outstanding recruiting connections and he will be able to bring the best student-athletes in the nation to Illinois. His experience will be a tremendous resource for our players in their transition through collegiate tennis to the professional tour."
In his first year with the Illini, Kinnear helped lead the doubles tandem of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe to the NCAA doubles championship, the Fighting Illini to a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and he had a part in the development of preseason No. 1-ranked senior Ryler DeHeart, who finished his career with Illinois with a loss in the Round of 16 at NCAAs.
Kinnear and Dancer helped the Illinois men's tennis program finish the 2005-06 campaign ranked No. 9 in the country in the final ITA poll, finishing the season 24-7 overall, conference tournament runners-up and a 9-1 league regular season record.
Kinnear's playing credentials include an 11-year career (1988-99) on the ATP Tour, rankings as high as 163rd in singles, 24th in doubles and 2nd in team doubles with Sven Salumaa. In addition, Kinnear's notable singles wins include victories over Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis. Over the course of his professional career, Kinnear played in 50 different countries and in 38 Grand Slam events. Kinnear recorded five career wins over the world's No. 1-ranked doubles team.
Kinnear graduated from Clemson University in May 1988 with a bachelor's degree in administrative management. The former Tiger found success in the Atlantic Coast Conference, garnering All-America accolades in 1987. He also grabbed 1988 ACC Tournament MVP honors before being tabbed to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2003.
Kinnear worked for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Indiana for two years following his retirement from the ATP Tour. In 2003, Kinnear moved to Asheboro, N.C., where he founded KBall Tennis, Inc., a corporation focused on junior player development. The program includes oversight for 50 players ages 6-21, while instilling core character values in the process.
From 2001-04, Kinnear partnered with David Wheaton to form Wheaton/Kinnear Tennis Events. Wheaton and Kinnear lent their expertise in on-court clinics and workshops for players and coaches. Community tennis associations and college tennis teams gained valuable knowledge from the exhibitions and speaking engagements that Wheaton and Kinnear put on. Kent and his wife, Happy, are parents to one daughter, Anika, and reside in Champaign, Ill.
