The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Men's Tennis

THE WOODRUFF FILE Personal Information Full Name: Christopher Massey Woodruff Born: Jan. 2, 1973 Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn. Education: Tennessee, 2005 Wife: Jennifer Children: Olivia, Tate, Carter, Ava and Chase Coaching Experience 2002-04: Tennessee, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2004-06: Tennessee, Assistant Coach 2006-17: Tennessee, Associate Head Coach 2017-Present: Tennessee, Head Coach Playing Experience 1991-93: University of Tennessee 1993-2002: ATP Tour Woodruff celebrates after upsetting Andre Agassi Coaching Honors 2008 ITA Region III Assistant Coach of the Year 2008 ITA National College Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee 2010 ITA Ohio Valley Region Asst.Coach of the Year 2013 ITA Ohio Valley Region Asst.Coach of the Year 2013 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year 2021 ITA Ohio Valley Region Coach of the Year Team Highlights 2005 NCAA Round of 16 2008 NCAA Round of 16 2009 NCAA Round of 16 2010 ITA Indoors Finalists 2010 SEC Regular-Season Champions 2010 SEC Tournament Champions 2010 NCAA Finalists 2011 ITA Indoors Finalists 2011 SEC Regular-Season Champions 2013 NCAA Quarterfinalists 2014 NCAA Round of 16 2019 NCAA Round of 16 2021 SEC Tournament Champions 2021 NCAA Semifinalists 2022 ITA Indoors Finalists 2022 NCAA Semifinalists 2023 NCAA Round of 16 2024 NCAA Quarterfinalists 2025 NCAA Round of 16 Individual Highlights No. 1 Ranked - Singles: 2024 - Johannus Monday; 2013 - Mikelis Libietis; 2011 - Rhyne Williams; 2010 - John-Patrick Smith No. 1 Ranked - Doubles: 2021 -

Updated: April 2024 Amanda Fernandez joined the Tennessee Athletics staff in July of 2021 as the Associate Director of Sports Nutrition. She oversees the nut...

Updated: Sept. 2021 Brad Roll serves as Tennessee’s sports performance coach for the volleyball and men’s tennis programs in addition to his duties as a perf...

Joe Whitney oversees the provision of mental health training services to all of the University of Tennessee athletes and teams. A 1982 graduate of Springfield College, Dr. Whitney coached basketball and football in New York City for 13 years before leaving to pursue graduate studies in sport psychology. Dr. Whitney obtained a master's degree from Virginia in 1997 and a Ph.D from Tennessee in 2000. He served as a graduate assistant and sport psychology consultant at UT before being named Director of Mental Training in January of 2002.

The 2025-26 season marks Assistant Coach Jaime Barajas' third year in Knoxville and his third as assistant coach. In the 2024-25 season, Barjas helped guide the Big Orange to the NCAA Round of 16, which included an NCAA Super Regional appearance for the sixth consecutive season - marking Tennessee's most consecutive appearances in the Round of 16 or further since the tournament adopted its current 64-team format in 1999. A decorated former college tennis standout and experienced coach at the collegiate and professional levels, Jaime Barajas (pronounced: HIGH-may Buh-RAH-hoss) has made a big splash in his tenure to date on Rocky Top. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Jaime to Tennessee,” associate head coach James McKie said. “The experience he will bring to our program is invaluable and we look forward to how he will help our program continue to succeed.” Most recently, prior to arriving in Knoxville, Barajas served as an independent contractor with the United States Tennis Association from 2019-22, working with some of the top junior tennis players in the country, along with transitional professionals. His primary roles included on-court coaching, analyzing scouting reports, serving as a hitting partner and overseeing strength and conditioning workouts as needed. Barajas coached ATP professional Brandon Nakashima, who achieved a career-high ATP world singles ranking of No. 43 in October of 2022. Under Barajas’ guidance at the 2022 San Diego Open, Nakashima won the title

Updated: August 2024 Karla Sass enters her 25th year working with Tennessee Athletics in 2024-25, as she enters her second year as the Director of Tennis Operations. Sass provides administrative and logistical support to both the Vols and Lady Vols programs. Prior to her role with Tennessee tennis, Sass spent 23 years with the Tennessee rowing program. In 2000, she started as the facility coordinator and equipment rigger for the team. From 2010-23, Sass served as the program's director of operations. Before coming to Tennessee, Sass worked in the University of Iowa Athletics Department for 11 years—seven as a facility coordinator and event management supervisor, and four as the travel coordinator and facility/events supervisor for the Hawkeyes’ rowing program. In addition to her duties with Iowa Athletics, Sass also spent four years working as a land surveyor in the Iowa City area. Sass was a member of the Iowa Women’s Rugby Club from 1987-96, the midwest regional squad from 1992-96 and was a member of USA National Women’s Rugby Development Squad in 1995-96 prior to a career-ending injury. She graduated from Iowa in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Education and dual minors in Health and Coaching. After graduation, she held a teaching and coaching position in a small town in Iowa and coached girls basketball and girls track & field. A native of South English, Iowa, Sass still holds her high school’s shot-put record.

Matt Lucas enters his second year with Tennessee and his second as the associate head coach for the 2025-26 season. Lucas helped the Vols reach the round of 16 in the 2024-25 season, which adds on to the previous mark set the year before for Tennessee's most consecutive appearances in the Round of 16 or further since the tournament adopted its current 64-team format in 1999. A talented coach and experienced leader on and off the courts, Matt Lucas was announced as the associate head coach for the Tennessee men's tennis program by head coach Chris Woodruff Nov. 26, 2024. "Matt brings an abundance of knowledge into our tennis program," said Woodruff. "He excels in so many facets of collegiate athletics, from his head coaching experience to player relations to familiarity with the Southeastern Conference. We are fortunate to have him at Tennessee." Most recently, Lucas served as the head coach for the University of North Florida. In his seven seasons at the helm, Lucas notched an 87-59 (.596) overall record, with a 33-9 record in conference play. He also marked a stellar 21-3 record over the past three years against ASUN opponents. Lucas is coming off a very successful season with an undefeated record in conference play for the second time at UNF, garnering ASUN regular season and tournament championships and NCAA team and singles postseason appearances. He also helped usher the ASUN's Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Doubles Pair of the Year, as well as two F

Yosef joined Tennessee as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with Tennessee Men’s and Women’s Tennis in June of 2021. Prior to that he worked as an Intern Athleti...