MORAGA, Calif. - On Wednesday, May 14th, Greg Kennett announced his retirement after 10 seasons at the helm of the men's tennis program. Kennet was named the fourth head coach in program history back in 2015 and led the program to 59 match victories and 13 all-conference selections. He helped produce the WCC Freshman of the Year in Damon Kesaris back in 2017 for the program's first major conference award since 2008. 

Saint Mary's finished sixth in the conference standings this season and got match wins over Portland and Gonzaga to qualify for the WCC Tournament for the second time under Kennett's tenure. After falling in the first round to Santa Clara, the Gaels would earn a bid to the NIT Championships to extend their postseason. 

Saint Mary's proceeded to rattle off match wins over Morgan State and Rider University to advance to the championship match against the field's top seed in Chattanooga. The match went down to the wire but the Gaels would finish as runner-ups, falling 4-2 to the Mocs. Kennett ended his career competing for the program's first piece of hardware and earning their first second place finish in a postseason event since 2008.  

"It's been an honor to have been a part of the Saint Mary's tennis program over the last 10 seasons, and now after 30 years of coaching at some great universities, I'm stepping off the court with a heart full of gratitude," Kennett said. "I've been lucky enough to be associated with some of the finest young men from all over the world, and our relationships have brought treasured memories and wonderful friendships.

"The greatest victory has always been watching those student-athletes discover their strength, both in tennis and in life. I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to the administration here at Saint Mary's and to the other colleges I've been lucky enough to coach at. I'm proud of my role in leading the program here and building the platform for its continued success. The support of my wife Amie, family and friends has meant the world to me over the years and has certainly been a huge part of the success." 

"Coach Kennett embodied all of the core values and principles that our university holds and we appreciate all of his hard work and dedication to the university and the men's tennis program", said Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso. "Greg brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the tennis program and was able to share those experiences with his student-athletes to set them up for success on and off the court. We thank coach Kennett for his lasting impact on the program and Saint Mary's athletics and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information. 

#GaelsRise