USC Women's Tennis: 7-Time National Championship-Winning Former Coach Passes
The USC women's tennis program lost a legend last month.
1974-88 Women of Troy head coach Dave Borelli, who captained the club to seven national titles, sadly passed away at the age of 71 on July 15th, 2023, per a USC press release.
Borelli also coached at Texas Christian University and for the USTA's pro tour.
But let's unpack his tenure at USC, where he led the program to a 302-45 (.870) record. He captured his first NCAA title as the team's head coach in 1983, aged just 32, when he also led the club to a spotless 33-0 record. Four of his players became national singles champs: Barbara Hallquist (1976 and 1977), Stacy Margolin (1978), Anna-Maria Fernandez (1981) and Beth Herr (1983).
As a pro, Hallquist won one career title, in doubles, and finished in the 1980 US Open quarterfinals in both singles and doubles. Her highest ranking on the WTA was No. 30. She returned to her alma matter to serve under Borelli from 1985-88, winning a national title with the club in '85.
Margolin also won one tournament event as a pro, and was ranked as high as No. 18.
Across an 11-year WTA career, Fernandez (a Torrance native) won five doubles titles and was ranked as high as No. 19 in the tournament.
Bellamy, who was ranked as high as No. 31 on the tour during a nine-year pro playing career, won four doubles career titles and one singles.
All told, 25 of Borelli's USC players won 56 All-America honors.
Borelli coached the TCU women's team from 2002-2006 and from 2010-2014, and the men's team from 2007-2010.
In 2010, he was enshrined in the ITA Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.
Our thoughts are with Borelli's friends and family during this difficult time.