Mike Saunders

Biography

• 2022, 2024 & 2025 Big West Champions • 2023 Big West co-Regular Season Champions • Three-Time Big West Coach of the Year Mike Saunders is entering his 11th year at the helm of the UC Irvine men's tennis program in 2025-26. Saunders has built the Anteaters back into a Big West powerhouse, winning three conference tournaments and one regular season title over the last four seasons. Since 2022, UCI is 28-6 against Big West opponents (including postseason). Last year, the second-seeded 'Eaters claimed their second-straight Big West Championship. They cruised to a 4-0 victory over UC Riverside in the opening round before upending No. 3 UC Davis in the semifinals and No. 1 UC Santa Barbara in the final by identical 4-3 scores. UCI went on to make its 13th NCAA Division I tournament appearance. UC Irvine closed the 2025 campaign with an 18-6 overall record and was 44th in the final ITA National Rankings. The Anteaters rose to as high as No. 36 during the season. Saunders earned his third Big West Coach of the Year award, while Noah Zamora, who was one of four 'Eaters to receive all-conference honors, was named the Big West Player of the Year. Zamora also became the first Anteater to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship in 14 years. He upset the 13th-ranked player in the nation to advance to the Round of 32. Zamora was 66th in the final ITA Singles Rankings. In 2024, No. 2 seed UC Irvine defeated Cal Poly in the semifinals, then took down No. 1 seed and 45th-ranked UC Santa Ba