Family First: Shelton Steps Down as UF Coach

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Compared to everyone else in the coaching profession (pick a sport, any sport), Bryan Shelton has been fortunate in that the time he has dedicated to his tennis players at the University of Florida did not come at the utter sacrifice of his family. Shelton’s daughter Emma, after two seasons at South Carolina, transferred to UF to play for the women’s team two summers ago and shared the same headquarters as her younger brother, Ben, who had just wrapped his freshman season playing for his father. 

An historic freshman season, at that. 

In 2021, Shelton (the coach) guided UF to the first NCAA championship in program history, with Shelton (the son) providing the match-clinching point in the tournament final against Baylor. Pretty good stuff, eh? 

 

A year later, Shelton (the coach) watched Shelton (the son) become the fourth UF player in program history to win the NCAA singles draw, basically checking every Bryan Shelton box imaginable, with 19-year-old Ben turning pro a few weeks later and the family on hand a few months later to watch him compete in the 2022 U.S. Open in New York. 

It was in late-December, though, that Ben headed off to prepare for the Australian Open in what was his first foray — ever — out of the country. His father had professional obligations of his own. He stayed behind to prepare for UF’s 2023 season-opening match against Texas. 

“That was tough. The huge moments in their lives you want to be a part of those,” Shelton said of his children. “But I can’t really complain too much about that.”

Nor will he have to miss any more of those moments, either. Shelton, 57, is stepping down, effectively immediately, after 11 seasons guiding the Gators. The news should come as no surprise. He’s doing so to spend more time with his family, but also to focus on coaching Ben, who in less than a year has rocketed from No. 547 to No. 36 in the ATP world rankings, and at 20 is considered a rising superstar in the sport. 

Not will only will Bryan Shelton no longer miss his son’s matches, he’ll be back courtside lending a hand.

“I’m not done working,” he said with a smile. 

[Bryan Shelton‘s ‘Farewell Letter’ to Gator Nation and photo gallery here]

One of the most popular and respected coaches on campus, Shelton will be missed by his UF peers, but Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin will move quickly to fill a vacancy that Shelton helped turn —…