Hernandez Tong Named Asst. Men’s Tennis Coach
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — He’s back! Ricky Hernandez Tong, one of the most decorated of men’s tennis players at The University of New Mexico, has returned to the team, having been named assistant coach, announced Ben Dunbar, men’s tennis coach.
“I am so happy to welcome Ricky back to the Lobo family and I have no doubt he will be an integral member of our success moving forwards as a coach; as he was as a player here at UNM,” said Dunbar. “Ricky was one of the best UNM tennis players in recent years, so to get him back and on court with the current Lobos is a huge get. We competed against Middle Tennessee with Ricky as their coach last year, they had a great year but I think the call to come home to Albuquerque and work with this team, with these guys who Ricky knows well was too much to turn down.”
Dunbar added, “I am so excited to get to work; and work collaboratively with Ricky to take this program to the next level and reach our lofty goals for this program.”
Hernandez Tong played from 2015-19, helping UNM win the 2019 Mountain West regular season title. He went 83-44 over his career in singles and 57-39 in doubles. He currently ranks eighth all-time at UNM in singles wins and he is tied for 28th in doubles. He was named All-Mountain West three times (2017, 2018 and 2019). He also was a six-time Mountain West Player of the Week, and he was the 2019 ITA Mountain Region Champion, UNM’s first regional champion in 15 years and was ranked as high as No. 23 in singles.
Hernandez Tong was a volunteer assistant at UNM before heading to Middle Tennessee State as a graduate assistant. Last year MTSU was 13-5 before the COVID-19 pandemic ended its season.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be coming home. To have the opportunity to give back to the program that has given me so much over the years is an honor,” said Hernandez Tong. “I want to take this time to thank Ben for this incredible opportunity and for showing me over the years what it means to be a Lobo. This is the most talented Lobo team that I’ve seen and I can’t wait to get to work and let these guys show Lobo Nation how good they can be! Go Lobos!”