WACO, Texas - Baylor men's tennis head coach Matt Knoll was named the United States Professional Tennis Association Texas College Coach of the Year, the association announced recently.

The USPTA award honors the success that BU had during the 2014-15 school year. Knoll led the Bears back to the NCAA Championship semifinals for the fifth-time in program history. BU ended the year ranked No. 3 in the nation, earning its highest final ranking since being No. 2 at the end of 2005 season.

During 2015, Baylor was 25-6 and won the Big 12 regular season crown with a 4-1 victory at No. 16 Texas Tech. Aided by three seniors, Knoll's crew suffered a season-opening loss to No. 11 Illinois and then went the rest of the season not losing to anyone other then national champion Virginia (4-2 in NCAA semis) or NCAA runner-up Oklahoma (four times). The Bears were 4-1 in Big 12 play and 21-6 against ranked foes. Individually, Knoll guided Diego Galeano and Julian Lenz to the NCAA Doubles semifinals to earn All-America accolades and an end-of-the-year ranking of No. 1 - the first No. 1 ranking for any doubles tandem in BU history. Lenz and senior Tony Lupieri also earned singles All-American honors.

Knoll won the association's 2004 and 2008 USPTA National Collegiate Coach of the Year honors. Knoll, who is in his 20th season at Baylor, owns a 458-122 record. His teams have captured 13 Big 12 Conference regular season titles, including eight in a row from 2002-09, and eight Big 12 Tournament championships, including three straight from 2007-09.

Knoll was recognized at the General Membership Luncheon on Feb. 19 during the USPTA Texas Annual Conference in Marble Falls, Texas at the Horseshoe Bay Resort.

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