Career Highlights
- Entering 37th Season
- 8x NAIA National Tournament Appearance
- 4x MSC Coach of the Year (2000, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Originally from Klang, Malaysia, Dr. Chin Tan graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in 1987 with a BS in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems. While at Cumberlands, Tan lettered three years as a tennis player and was named an Academic All-American. In 1988, upon completion of an MBA in Business Administration from Tennessee Tech University, he was invited to return to UC as a faculty member for the Department of Business. One year later, in 1989, he was named Head Coach of Men's and Women's Tennis. He is now going into his 31st season as the Head Coach of the Tennis teams in 2020.
For the men's and women's teams, Tan has coached six Mid-South Conference Player of the Year recipients, 20 NAIA All-Americans, 50 All-Conference selection, 28 Mid-South Conference Player of the Week honorees, six MSC Player of the Year recipients, six Academic All-American Team honorees, two MSC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year recipients (1997 & 1998), 65 Academic and All-Conference Team selections. In 2018, Tan coached the MSC Women's Tennis Freshman of the Year (Tomomi Nagao) and an MSC Women's Tennis Champions of Character recipient (Luka Lyttle). He also coached an MSC Men's Tennis Champions of Character honoree (Kenny Wilson, 2016), an MSC Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year (Ariez Heshaam, 2013), an MSC Men's Tennis Player of the Year (Juan De La Llera, 2012) and MSC Women's Tennis Players of the Year in 2013 (Neesha Thirumalaichelvam), 2014 (Thirumalaichelvam) and 2017 (Isabella Dale).
At the start of the Fall 2020-21 season, Tan coached Martin Barbier to the ITA Men’s Single Title and the duo of Eric Banoub and Barbier to the ITA Men’s Doubles Title. He also coached Tomomi Nagao to the ITA Women’s Single Runner-Up Title and the pairing of Mikaela Fros and Nagao to the ITA Women’s Doubles Runner-Up Title.
Coach Tan says one of the most rewarding aspects of being a coach is seeing his players become champions, a reward he has enjoyed many times. Under his leadership, Patriot teams won the District 32 championship in 1993 and 1994; the KIAL in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996; the Mid-South Conference in 1998 and 2000; and the KWIC in 1998 and 2000.
Mr. Tan's excellence as a coach has also frequently been recognized. In 1993 and 1996, both the KIAC and District 32 honored him as Coach of the Year. The Mid-South Conference did the same in 1998 and 1999. Then in 2003, after his men's team won Region 11, he was named the Region 11 Coach of the Year.
Tan has led either men's or women's teams to the NAIA National Championships in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Tan has conducted nationwide tennis clinics in Malaysia, has served as Tournament Director for the SANEX-Malaysian Open and, in 1999, as coach of the Malaysian National Tennis Teams. Also, he has conducted coaching clinics in Thailand. Coach Tan runs tennis clinics in Malaysia. One of Tan's former players, Yew Ming Si, was the No. 1 ranked player in Malaysia in 2010. Si played in the Davis Cup and at one time was in the Top 80 in the ATP. Timur Akkaziez, another former player for Tan, was also a Davis Cup member for Kyrkystan.
Coach Tan comments, "UC is the perfect place to coach. We strive every day to meet the mission of the college and that is to be exemplary in all of our undertakings. We continue to attract very good people into our program. I feel that I am a player's coach. I serve my players on and off the court to ensure that they succeed. We ensure that all players are treated fairly and that each one is given an opportunity to contribute to the success of our program. The honor of working with some very good people who will humble you with their willingness to do their best is amazing."
Tan also added, "The day's works are long but the years are short. Enjoy your time here and be purposeful in your doings. Compete hard and fight til the last drop for your team. Make long lasting friends with your teammates. Learn to respect the sports you play and fall in love with it. Do always remember that you stand on the shoulders of those who came before you."
Coach Tan is married to wife Dr. Julie Tan, a Chemistry professor at the University of the Cumberlands. They have two children: William and Christian. William, at the age of 13, became the youngest qualifier for the KHSAA Boy's State Tennis Tournament. Christian is an up and coming tennis player.
