Chris Bizot

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Chris Bizot

Chris Bizot joined the UT Tyler athletic family in 2004 as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach and has quickly continued his professional string of building successful programs.

He currently boasts a 128-52 record with the men's team and 122-52 record with the women's team and is 302-151 all-time as a head tennis coach in eight seasons, including two at Palm Beach Atlantic.

In eight years with the Patriots, Bizot has guided the men’s team to eight consecutive American Southwest Conference East Division Championships, while the women's team has won seven-straight division titles. Furthermore, both teams have claimed five consecutive ASC Championships, three of those on the Patriots’ home court, and made postseason trips to the NCAA Regionals.

In 2012, the men's team finished the season with an overall record of 17-5, while going a perfect 6-0 in the ASC on their way to their eighth consecutive ASC East title and fifth consecutive ASC tournament crown. The men, yet again, earned the right to play in the NCAA tournament. The women, just as impressive as the men, also won their fifth straight ASC title while boasting a 18-4 record and 6-0 in conference, while advancing to the NCAA field.

Also in 2012, coach Bizot earned the Wilson/ITA West Region's women's coach of the year

In 2011, the Patriots men's team finished with a 18-7 record, including a 5-0 record in American Soutwest Conference matchups.  The men won their seventh consecutive ASC East title, and an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.  The women finished with a 17-8 record, including a 5-0 record in ASC matchups.  The women won their sixth consective ASC title and an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.

Even more impressive, the UT Tyler men and women also each have active match win streaks against division opponents dating back to Bizot’s arrival, with the men having won 45-straight and never lost during his tenure, next to 40 consecutive wins against east division opponents for the women.

An eleven-time ASC East Division Coach of the Year selection – six with the women and five with the men – Bizot has coached a total of 115 all-division, 82 all-conference and 15 all-American selections during his short stint with the Patriots in addition to seven ASC East Newcomers of the Year, nine East Players of the Year and six Freshmen of the Year.

Bizot has had two players, Dustin Phillips (2009) and Kevin Wright (2012) earn tennis’ most prestigious national award in the Arthur Ashe Award from the ITA. Phillips became the first Patriot in school history to collect the honor a week after being named one of four national finalists representing the NCAA’s West Region. Wright earned the award in 2012, after leading the Patriots to their fifth straight ASC crown, and an appearence in the NCAA tournament.

The 2009-10 season was yet again a success for the Patriots, with both teams claiming division and conference titles and making repeat trips to the NCAA Regionals. Ranked in the ITA Top 30 for the entire season, the women posted a 17-4 mark and made it to the second round of the NCAAs with the men following at 16-7 and their second trip to the NCAA regional championship match in three seasons.

At season’s end, UT Tyler racked up in all-conference accolades, led by junior Michelle Hagler and sophomore Ashley Albro who were named the ASC East Player and Newcomer of the Year. In total, eight women and eight men were selected to the all-East Division Team, mostly comprised of first teamers. Brad Fenter and Nick Kreines also were named the first doubles All-Americans in school history after winning the ITA Southwest Regional in Dallas back on Sept. 28, 2009.

Prior to joining UT Tyler, Bizot was the NCCAA National Women’s Coach of the Year for Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla., a member of the NAIA. His men's and women's teams were both ranked in the Top 20 and qualified for the national championships during his two seasons, with the women’s team winning the 2004 NCCAA National Championship.

A four-year team captain during his playing days at Mississippi College, Bizot holds a masters in history and also a bachelors in administration of justice.

He and his wife, Rachel reside in Tyler with their daughter, Camden (4) and are expecting a son in September of 2010.

Chris Bizot: Year-by-Year