About Tennis at Iowa

Don Klotz, a native Iowan, received his PhD from the University of Iowa and joined the faculty in 1948. He served with distinction as a professor in the department of Physical Education and as the Head Coach of the men’s intercollegiate tennis team until his retirement in 1971. His 1958 team won the Big 10 Tennis Championship and finished 3rdin the NCAA tournament. His outstanding success as a tennis coach was achieved primarily as a consequence of his unique ability to recognize and develop the talents of native Iowans.

Don Klotz is widely known and respected for his many contributions as a teacher, scholar, coach and innovator in tennis instruction, court construction and court maintenance. He devised and developed the revolutionary and now famous volley method of tennis instruction, he has written many authoritative articles on tennis techniques, strategy and tactics and his extensive research efforts have led to many significant improvements and a patent in tennis court construction and maintenance.

In recognition of his many accomplishments, coach Klotz received the University of Iowa Award for Dedication to Sports Excellence in teaching, coaching and human relations in 1970. He was inducted into the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame in 1974 and he received the Master Tennis Coach of the United States from the US Professional tennis association in 1978.

He is remembered with great respect, admiration and affection by his many former students, team members, faculty and coaching colleagues and friends.

The outdoor tennis courts at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex are dedicated to professor and coach Donald D. Klotz in honor of his many outstanding contributions to the University of Iowa.