Kevin Fulton - Women's Tennis Coach - University of Louisville Athletic

Coach Mark Beckham talks to his team before the start of the matches against Ball State on January 24, 2020.

Kevin Fulton

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
kevinf@GoCards.com
Phone:
852-0018

Kevin Fulton, former head coach at Morehead State, began his stint as assistant on the University of Louisville women's tennis coaching staff in July of 2017.

"I am extremely excited to announce the return of Kevin Fulton to University of Louisville Tennis," said UofL head coach Mark Beckham. "Kevin and I worked together with the men's team and helped build that program and won a championships together. He brings a lot of head coaching experience to the program and he is one of the best teachers of the game that I have ever been around. He is a very good recruiter and has an understanding of what needs to be done to produce a high level team. I couldn't have gotten anyone better to complement what I do and build on the good season we had last year. He and I together are going to really push the team and get the most out of them and also bring in high quality players every year. Women's tennis just got a whole lot better with the hiring of Kevin Fulton."

A highly successful head coach on both the NAIA and NCAA level and a native of Maysville, Ky., Fulton spent 11 seasons as Morehead State's head men's and women's tennis coach before the Eagles were forced to drop the programs in 2016 after state budget cuts.

" I am so excited to be back at UofL," said Fulton. "I can't thank John Carns and Coach Beckham enough for allowing me to join his staff and continue to help build his program into a powerhouse in the ACC. We have a lot of talent on this team and I can't wait to get on court with them and help them develop."

Fulton's first year with the Cardinals was 2017-18, the season marked the first time the Cardinals had two different doubles teams in the national rankings with Humberg and Pahz being joined in the poll by Sena Suswam and Raven Neeley. Humberg and Pahz amassed a 26-6 doubles record at the No. 1 slot that year and ended the season ranked at No. 46. UofL opened the ACC season with an upset of Notre Dame. The Cards fell to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Humberg, Pahz and Suswam all earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic roll.

In 2018-19, he was part of the staff when the Cardinals began the season with a 9-0 mark and were ranked as high at No. 49 nationally. UofL placed seven on the ACC Honor Roll.

The Cards’ 2019-20 season came to a grinding halt in early March when the COVID pandemic shut the world down. Luckily, the Cardinals were able to take their long-awaited trip to Hawai’I before the shutdown. UofL was 8-6 when play was suspended nationwide. The Cardinals continued to excel in the classroom despite the quarantine, placing seven on the ACC Honor Roll and posted a perfect APR.

In 2020-21, Beckham and Fulton once again had two doubles teams in the national rankings with Raven Neely and Tatiana Simova (as high as No. 13) excelling as a duo along with Andrea Di Palma and Rhea Verma were both among the best in the country. Freshman phenom Andrea Di Palma broke into the singles national rankings as well. The team spent three weeks in the national ranking and ended the regular season with a 9-14 record. Andrea Di Palma earned Third Team All-ACC honors after posting a 10-6 record at No. 2 singles.

In 2021-22, the Cards began the season with a 7-1 record and were ranked as high as No. 65 nationally. The duo of Andrea Di Palma and Rhea Verma broke into the doubles national rankings at No. 71. The Cards posted an 8-7 record in home matches, marking the sixth straight season that the team finished with a winning record at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. Beckham's squad finished the season 8-15 and fell to Boston College in the first round of the ACC tournament.

In 2022-23, the Cardinals finished 10-15 overall and 1-12 (ACC) in 2022-23. Beckham’s Cardinals beat Boston College in the first round of the ACC Championship in Cary, N.C. before falling to No. 36 Syracuse in the quarterfinals. The Cardinals were led by Tyra Richardson’s 12-12 record in singles at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions. Andrea DiPalma posted a 10-13 mark at No. 1 singles and was ranked as high as No. 109 in singles for the Cardinals with three wins over Top 35 players. Jamilah Snells and CiCi Xin led the Cardinals on the doubles side with a record of 12-7. Under his guidance, the Cardinals continued to excel in the classroom. Andrea DiPalma, Sasha Gorchanyuk, Tyra Richardson, Jamilah Snells and CiCi Xin named to the 2023 All-ACC Academic Team. Richardson, Gorchanyuk and Cici Xin were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women's Tennis Academic All-District team. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Arielle Nealy was named as the first scholarship recipient of The Debra J. Holmes Scholarship. this scholarship is designed to support current Black female collegiate athletes preparing for their future and transition from college athletics.

Prior to his stint and U ofL, Fulton guided the Eagle women's team to a third-place showing in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2014, after winning just three total matches in 2013. He was named OVC Women's Coach of the Year in 2014. Fulton guided Briar Preston to OVC Player of the Year honors. The Eagle women placed third again in 2015.

He led the men's team to six straight Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berths. His teams also maintained high academic standards.

Prior to his stint at Morehead, Fulton was a two-time Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and led the Indiana University Southeast men to an NAIA top 25 ranking in 2005. His team produced a 32-18 overall record while he was in charge after going just 6-9 in 2003. In addition, he coached six all-conference players and two All-Americans in 2005. Fulton mentored Sebastian Aspillaga to the ITA Midwest Region singles and doubles championships in 2004.

In 2005, Indiana Southeast advanced to the finals of the Region 12 tournament, the first regional match in the history of the school. Fulton also served as a volunteer coach for the nationally-ranked University of Louisville men's team from 2000-2003.

He helped lead the Louisville men to a Conference USA championship in 2000. The Cardinals garnered a ranking as high as 19th nationally in 2002.He was also Director of Tennis at French Lick (Ind.) Springs Resort, the largest tennis resort in the Midwest, from 1999-2000. At French Lick, Fulton coached 54 all-state high school players, including 44 who went on to play collegiately. In 1998, he was named the KSwiss National Pro of the Year.

Fulton began his coaching career at Vincennes University from 1997-1999. There, he helped coach six junior college All-Americans and helped the school produce a 64-13 overall record.

In addition, he served as a health and physical education teacher at Saint Matthew's Elementary School in Louisville, Ky. Fulton graduated from the University of Louisville in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and human performance. Fulton earned his Master's degree from U of L in 2003. While in school, he was named to the Dean's List six times.

He is married to the former Emily Roberson of Louisville. The couple has two children, Gavin and Piper.