Tripp Philips
University of North Carolina alumnus Tripp Phillips joined the Tar Heel men's tennis coaching staff in 2006, doing a spectacular job as Coach Sam Paul's top assistant since that time. In his six years as an assistant coach, the former professional player has made a huge impact on the UNC tennis program, an era in which the Tar Heels have advanced to the NCAA Tournament every season.
Phillips has been an assistant for six full seasons (2006-07 through 2011-12) during which the Tar Heels have compiled a 111-44 overall record, won 47 ACC regular season matches and made a half dozen NCAA Tournament appearances. The Tar Heels have won at least one NCAA Tournament match every year he has been on the staff and in 2008 and 2012 advanced to the Round of 16.
After graduating from Carolina in 2000, Phillips began a highly successful professional career in 2001. The talented right-hander achieved a career high Association of Tennis Professionals' (ATP) doubles ranking of 29th on October 6, 2006. In singles, Phillips reached his high point as the 343rd-ranked player in the world on May 19, 2003.
Phillips was coached as a professional by both UNC head coach Sam Paul and Charlotte Country Day varsity tennis coach Calvin Davis. While he enjoyed success as a singles player, notching victories against players such as Michael Chang, Harold Levey and Oscar Hernandez, Phillips ultimately decided to focus his efforts on doubles and the results he achieved in those events gave him a better opportunity to play in the world's biggest and most respected tournaments.
Phillips had perhaps his most successful year as a doubles player in 2006 when he paired with Australia's Ashley Fisher. The pair reached the semifinals of the 2006 U.S. Open, a run that was highlighted by wins against Andy Murray as well as two of the Top 10 doubles teams in the world. Phillips and Fisher also won the doubles championship at the 2006 ATP event hosted in Tokyo.
In 2007, Phillips continued his success as an established doubles player, earning seeds in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments and reaching the round of 16 in the U.S. Open. In 2008, he qualified for Wimbledon, and also won the ATP event hosted in Indianapolis.
The background to Phillips' successful career on the ATP tour was an outstanding college career from 1996 to 2000 as a member of the tennis team at the University of North Carolina. He was a tireless and intense competitor and valued team leader on Coach Paul's teams near the end of that decade.
Phillips returned for a fifth-year senior season in 2000 after taking a medical redshirt, and earned All-America honors after posting a stellar 25-6 singles record at the top singles flight. During that season, he defeated top-ranked Daniel Anderson and third-ranked Shuon Madden in singles play while helping the Tar Heels to a second-place ACC finish and a No. 16 national ranking. Phillips dominated the conference at number one singles, posting a 12-2 record in ACC play. After the team competition in 2000 was over, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the individual portion of the NCAA Championships in singles, earning a No. 12 national Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranking to finish the season.
The University of North Carolina honored Phillips' playing career and character with the prestigious Patterson Medal, given annually to the school's top male and female outstanding senior athletes. When he won it, he was the first UNC tennis player to receive the award since Vic Seixas in 1950. He also captured the John Van Nostrand Memorial Award given by the ITA which is given annually to an outstanding senior men's player who plans to pursue a professional tennis career upon graduation.
Phillips was born in Newport News, Va., on August 26, 1977. He grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and maintains his permanent residence in Chapel Hill, N.C. Phillips married Laura Zuger on November 4, 2006. Tripp and Laura are the proud parents of two sons. The couple's first child, Owen T. Phillips IV, was born November 1, 2009. James Zuger Phillips entered the world on December 12, 2011.
