Dean Orford

Biography

The Orford File PERSONAL INFORMATION Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa Education: Tulsa, 1992 (bachelor's degree in graphic design) Playing Experience: 4-year letterman, The University of Tulsa, 1987-91 Family: wife, Sally Ann; sons, Josey and Eli COACHING EXPERIENCE 2005-present: Tulsa, head coach TULSA HIGHLIGHTS - Tulsa's all-time winningest women's coach - Eight Conference Tournament Championships - 13 NCAA appearances - 1 NIT Championship appearance and title - Seven-time Conference Coach of the Year - Coached Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner to All-America status at the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship Dean Orford will be in his 21st season leading the Golden Hurricane in 2025-26. He is one of the winningest active NCAA Division I women’s tennis coaches in the country with a 371-146 (.717) career head coaching record. Under his tutelage, Orford has guided the Hurricane to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, eight conference championships and one NIT Championship title. Tulsa was crowned Conference USA champions five times –– 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 –– and has captured American Athletic Conference titles three times –– 2015, 2016 and 2018. His teams have finished with a top-50 ranking in 13 seasons, with their highest ranking of No. 19 coming twice, first in the 2010-11 season when the Hurricane posted a program-best 26-3 mark. The second time occurred in 2018, as the team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. Orford became Tulsa’s all-