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Scholarship named for Paducah tennis champion

HIGH SCHOOL DOUBLES CHAMPION WAS GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA. – MARCH 15, 2023 – The Southern Tennis Foundation, the charitable affiliate of United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section, announces the establishment of the Todd Crawford Memorial Scholarship to honor one of Kentucky’s successful junior players.

Crawford had a remarkable junior tennis career. He played for Paducah Tilghman High School for seven years, holding the No. 1 spot for four years. In 2000, Crawford and his partner Rob Gould won the KHSAA state doubles championship. Both were named All-State honorees. Also in 2000, he earned the No. 1 placement in Southern Boys’ 16s doubles with 400 points. On the USTA junior singles circuit, Crawford consistently placed in the top 50 Kentucky players and in the top 100 Southern players.

He attended the University of the South and graduated from the University of Kentucky summa cum laude. In 2012, he graduated from the Illinois School of Psychology, earning a master’s degree with honors in Clinical Psychology.

Jane Gamble, longtime USTA Southern volunteer, remembers Crawford and his family. “Todd and his teammates were the first class to play on the Chad Gamble Tennis Courts at Paducah Tilghman. His parents chaired the campaign to build the seven-court facility and locker rooms for players.” Dr. Keith and Jan Crawford were named the 2000 USTA Kentucky Family of the Year. In 2006, the complex was named the USTA Outstanding Facility of the Year.

The Paducah tennis community remembers Crawford’s passion for tennis, music, family and friends, A gregarious and multi-talented young man, he was known for his topknot and an infectious smile.

The Todd Crawford Memorial Scholarship is one of more than 20 Southern Tennis Foundation college scholarships. Students receive $1,000 a year for four years as long as they maintain a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must have participated in at least two years of high school tennis, but being a top-ranked player or continuing collegiate tennis is not a requirement and winners are not expected to play college tennis.

The STF is an independent, volunteer-led501(c)3 organization that provides needs-based scholarships, grants to assist competitive junior players, grants for youth-oriented programs, and emergency assistance to programs, pros and players. Donations are tax-exempt, and every dollar donated to the STF goes back to programs and players in the Southern states.

Ned Caswell, Tennessee & Georgia, 2017

Ned Caswell: Professional Player and Successful Coach

Ned Caswell’s life story was almost titled “Hoop Dreams.” If not for a basketball scholarship to Furman University, the Atlanta native might not have had a Hall of Fame tennis career. It may seem strange now, but Caswell, the General Manager and Director of Tennis at the Manker Patten Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tenn., went from starting guard on the Furman Men’s basketball team to a two-time All-American tennis player at Furman.

Caswell was named the Southern Conference MVP, reached the NCAA singles quarterfinals in 1987 and in many ways put Furman on the tennis map.

“I never aspired to this growing up,” said Caswell, who lettered in both sports at Furman, winning the Southern Conference singles title in both 1986 and 1987.

When Caswell talks coaches and coaching, the talk always turns to his coach at Furman, Paul Scarpa. Scarpa was himself inducted into the USTA Southern Hall of Fame in 2006, but Caswell freely admits his success was because of Scarpa’s leadership and patience.

“He took me from a walk on that should have probably been cut from his team as a freshman to the top of college tennis, while only playing part time because of basketball.”

Caswell graduated from Furman in 1987 with a degree in business administration, but the “real world” would have to wait as he set his sights on the ATP Tour. He turned professional and trained at Nick Bollettieri’s academy in Florida, and that began paying dividends immediately.

Even though he had success at Furman in college tennis, there was some question as to how Caswell would fare against the best players in the world. A stint on the USTA Junior Davis Cup team in 1987 with Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Malivai Washington, Jeff Tarango and David Wheaton was a confidence builder. He finished fourth at USTA Satellite #5 in 1988, earning 20 ATP World Tour points.

In 1989, Caswell jumped up the world rankings. A move from No. 583 to 250 and ending the year at No. 284 gave Caswell a chance to play ATP Challenger events, and he responded with semifinal showings at Lagos and Itu-Sao Paulo. He also reached the quarters at Nairobi and was a doubles runner-up at Coquitlam.

This gave Caswell an opportunity to play bigger ATP World Tour events and bring his ranking up to No. 200. Caswell notched wins over the likes of Sampras, Patrick McEnroe and Tim Wilkison.

One of Caswell’s most memorable matches was a loss to John McEnroe in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the 1989 Canadian Open played in Montreal.

After his professional career, Caswell turned his attention to coaching and developing players. He took the Anderson (S.C.) College team to the junior college national championship in 1992 and has led Baylor (Chattanooga) girls’ tennis to numerous TSSAA titles. He’s also won 16 gold balls on the national senior circuit. Caswell has held the No. 1 world ranking in singles and doubles in men’s 35s, for 1999-2000. He was the world champion in singles for 1999 and doubles in 1999 and 2001.

Caswell has also garnered his fair share of coaching honors. In 2010, he was named Best of Preps Coach of the Year. He also was named National Coach of the Year twice while leading Anderson College to the 1992 National Junior College title.

Always coaching, Caswell helped develop the tennis games of his twin daughters, Harper and Samantha. The Caswell daughters each played college tennis, with Harper at Furman and Samantha at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. They earned All-Southern Conference honors.

He has brought that same “family first” attitude to the club he’s been at for 20 years. Caswell made Manker Patten a place not just for great tennis but a club where families can come and spend time together. Caswell has brought a strong junior progran to Manker Patten along with a proven staff.

Caswell resides in Lookout Mountain, Ga., with his wife, Wendy.

Ned Caswell, Tennesse & Georgia, Inducted in 2017

Two-time All-American at Furman (S.C.) University, reaching the NCAA individual singles quarterfinals in 1987. He also graduated with a degree in Business Administration
Southern Conference MVP
Member of USTA Junior Davis Cup team in 1987 with Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Malivai Washington, Jeff Tarango and David Wheaton
Career-high ATP World Tour ranking of No. 200
Professional wins over Pete Sampras, Patrick McEnroe and Tim Wilkison
Has won 16 gold balls on the national senior circuit and held the No. 1 world ranking in singles and doubles in Men’s 35s, for 1999/2000. World Champion in singles for 1999 and doubles in 1999 and 2001.
2010 “Best of Preps” Coach of the Year
Twice named National Coach of the Year while at Anderson College