The University of North Carolina men’s tennis team will be honoring the memory of their late coach, Don Skakle, on Friday, May 10. Skakle led the UNC men’s tennis teams for 22 years and during that time, his teams won an impressive 16 ACC championships outright and tied for two others. His overall record was an impressive 418-55 with a league play record of 132-14.
Skakle was not only a successful coach but also a standout player at UNC, boasting an individual record of 60-1. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on the eve of the 1980 ACC Tennis Championships in Winston-Salem. Despite his untimely death, Skakle’s impact on the sport was significant and he was inducted into both the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame.
This year’s induction ceremony will take place during the 60th annual Induction Celebration at the Charlotte Convention Center and Skakle will be posthumously inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame alongside eleven other inductees. The class represents the diverse and dynamic sports heritage of North Carolina and showcases individuals who have made a lasting impact on their communities and beyond.
