Dr. David T. Porter
Under Coach Dave Porter, the Brigham Young University-Hawaii tennis program has risen from an extramural program to one of the most dominant names in small-college tennis. Since taking over the men's program in the fall of 1984 Porter has amassed a dual match record of 546 wins and 115 losses (.826 winning percentage). In 23 seasons Dr. Porter has created results that many coaches only dream about.
In only his third season (1994-95) Porter guided the Seasiders to the first undefeated season in any sport in school history. His 27-0 record earned him his first National Coach of the Year Award. In six seasons competing in the NAIA Porter's team's finished in the top five in the nation every year and won the national championship in both 1997 and 1998.
Porter's Record (Men's)
Year
The victory in 1997, BYU-Hawaii's first in tennis, was the most dominating performance in NAIA women's tennis history. The Seasiders, entering the tournament with a perfect 27-0 dual match record, set the all-time scoring record of 46 team points while winning both the individual singles and doubles titles. Karin Ptaszek defeated teammate Teresa Stromberg in the finals of the 256 open draw singles event while Stromberg and partner Anneli Ornstedt won the 128 draw doubles title. The national awards banquet was nearly an All-Seasider event as BYU-Hawaii won four of the five national awards. Karin Ptaszek was named Wilson/ITA Rookie of the Year, Paiao Short the Wilson/ITA Player to Watch, Teresa Stromberg the Wilson/ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award and Dr. Porter the Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year. Stromberg was also awarded the Marvin P. Richmond award for the Outstanding Player of the Year and Porter received the Penn National Coach of the Year Award.
The 1997-98 season was a repeat in many ways. Porter guided his team to its second consecutive NAIA National Championship. He also produced the National Player of the Year and the Wilson/ITA Senior Player of the Year (Paiao Short), received his third National Coach of the Year Award and finished the season with a 27-2 record (one loss coming from the forfeit of a 9-0 victory/the result of an administrative error).
In the fall of 1998 BYU-Hawaii changed its affiliation to the NCAA Division II. Under Porter's guidance BYU-H didn't miss a beat. In their first year of NCAA competition the Seasiders were undefeated at 37-0 and won their third consecutive National Championship and the first NCAA II Championship in the school's history. Dr. Porter was again named National Coach of the Year, his fourth such award. Freshman Petra Gaspar was named the Wilson/ITA Rookie of the Year and the 1999 Honda NCAA Division II National Player of the Year.
The 1999-2000 regular season ended with a 25-0 record and Porter's fourth undefeated season in six years. The NCAA II National Tournament ended without a loss as the Seasiders swept every opponent 5-0. The Seasiders were again ranked #1, extended their winning streak to 67 consecutive matches, and achieved a #16 ranking on Bob Larsen's Top 200 overall collegiate ranking. It was the Seasiders' fourth consecutive national women's tennis championship. Tagifano So'onalole was named the ITA National Player to Watch and Petra Gaspar was named the 2000 Honda NCAA Division II National Player of the Year for her second consecutive year.
Dr. Porter first came to BYU-Hawaii in the fall of 1982. A former collegiate tennis and basketball player at BYU (Utah), Porter applied to BYU-Hawaii as an assistant basketball coach with the hope of starting a tennis program. During the 1982-83 and 83-84 seasons Porter helped the Seasider basketball team achieve their first two twenty-game win seasons in school history. In the fall of 1984 Porter worked as an assistant volleyball coach and helped guide the women volleyballers to 2nd place at the National NAIA Tournament, the highest finish for women's volleyball at that time.
That same year, 1984, Porter moved from basketball to tennis and was given responsibility for the men's program, a position he still holds. During his 21 seasons guiding the men's tennis program Porter has compiled a record of 519 wins and 107 losses (.829 winning percentage). He has been named District and/or Regional Coach of the Year 15 times, Won 14 Conference Titles, made 13 National Tournament appearances, coached 13 NAIA 1st team All-Americans, 2 NCAA II All-Americans and produced 5 NAIA scholar athletes.
Since taking over the women's program in the fall of 1992 Porter has not only produced exceptional team results but has assisted many players in achieving individual titles and honors. Some of the most notable include:
Singles
1994 NAIA National Singles Champion Anneli Ornstedt
1997 NAIA National Singles Champion Karin Ptaszek
1998 NCAA II Rolex National Singles Champion Petra Gaspar
1998 Small College "Super Bowl" Singles Champion Petra Gaspar
1999 NCAA II Rolex National Singles Champion Petra Gaspar
1999 Small College "Super Bowl" Singles Champion Petra Gaspar Doubles
1995 NAIA National Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Maylani Ah Hoy
1995 NAIA Rolex National Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Teresa Stromberg
1995 Small College "Super Bowl" Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Teresa Stromberg
1996 NAIA Rolex National Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Yu-Hsien Liu
1996 Small College "Super Bowl" Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Yu-Hsien Liu
1997 NAIA National Doubles Champions Anneli Ornstedt/Teresa Stromberg
1998 NCAA II Rolex National Doubles Champions Petra Gaspar/Karin Ptaszek
1998 Small College "Super Bowl" Doubles Champion Petra Gaspar/Karin Ptaszek
1999 NCAA II Rolex National Doubles Champions Petra Gaspar/Tagifano So'onalole
1999 Small College "Super Bowl" Doubles Champions Petra Gaspar/Tagifano So'onalole
2000 NCAA II Rolex National Doubles Champions Petra Gaspar/Tagifano So'onalole
2000 Small College "Super Bowl" Doubles Champions Petra Gaspar/Tagifano So'onalole Honors/Awards
1994 NAIA Marvin P. Richmond Award (Player of the Year) Anneli Ornstedt
1997 NAIA Wilson/ITA Rookie of the Year Karin Ptaszek
1997 NAIA Wilson/ITA Player to Watch Paiao Short
1997 NAIA Wilson/ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Teresa Stromberg
1997 NAIA Marvin P. Richmond Award (Player of the Year) Teresa Stromberg
1998 NAIA Wilson/ITA Senior Player of the Year Paiao Short
1998 NAIA Marvin P. Richmond Award (Player of the Year) Paiao Short
1999 NCAA II Wilson/ITA Rookie of the Year Petra Gaspar
1999 NCAA II Honda Player of the Year Petra Gaspar
2000 NCAA II Wilson/ITA Player to Watch Tagifano So'onalole
2000 NCAA II Honda Player of the Year Petra Gaspar
Dr. Porter does more than just coach. As a full professor in the Exercise and Sports Science Division he teaches many of the core courses required by Exercise and Sports Science majors. He is the faculty liaison overseeing the University's Fitness Center and is responsible for the Faculty Fitness Program and the "personal fitness trainers" assigned to selected faculty and staff members. He also volunteers his time to teach religion classes on campus.
Dr. Porter is also active in tennis on the national and international level. He currently serves as Vice-President of the United States Professional Tennis Association, a 12,000-member organization of tennis teaching professionals worldwide. Dr. Porter is a much sought-after speaker and has given clinics and workshops for the ATP, the ITF, the USPTA, and the USTA. He has spoken in the former Soviet Union, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, the South Pacific, Mexico, and South America.
Dr. Porter is a member of MENSA. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from BYU in Provo, Utah and his Doctorate from the University of Hawaii. He loves to read, listen to music, and spend time with his family. He is active in church work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary to New England as a young man. He is married to Lorrie Porter and they have four children, Terah, Lincoln, Dillon and Taylor.
Favorite Books: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein and Luzon by Steven Goldsberry
Favorite Movies: The Princess Bride, Chariots of Fire, and How Rare a Possession.
Favorite Music: Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack.
Favorite Quote: "Happiness is not doing what you like to do, it is liking what you have to do."
