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They could see conference championships and national title runs coming as forcefully as an overhead smash. "I can remember telling people that as soon as he gets at a school that really supports him, he’s going to compete for a national title," says Pepperdine coach Peter Smith, a longtime friend and competitor with Cass. "He’s really one of the best coaches in the country, and I’ve known that for a long time. I think obviously (A&M) is finding that out and other people are finding that out."
Indeed, Cass has a lot of colleagues talking about A&M tennis, a program that was solid under former coach David Kent, but has become spectacular in the five years since Cass left New Mexico for Aggieland. In fact, of all the sports on the A&M campus, none have risen higher faster than the men’s tennis team. Just five years ago, the Aggies won nine matches the entire season. Over the last 50 matches heading into the Illinois match on April 6, A&M had posted a record of 42-8. During that 50-match span, the Aggies had beaten perennial powers like Duke, TCU, Florida, Pepperdine, Texas and LSU. Just this year alone, the fourth-ranked Aggies had beaten No. 2 Duke and No. 3 TCU in a span of five days at the Texas A&M Tennis Center. And no team has beaten A&M at home in 28 straight matches, a school record. Last spring, A&M defeated Texas in Austin for the first time ever, won its second Big 12 Tournament title and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Now, with a singles and doubles lineup as deep as any in the country, the 2001 Aggies have their sights set on a national championship. Only a hiccup to the Longhorns in the inaugural Texas Cup – a match in which two of the Aggies’ top players did not play because of illness – and a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to top-ranked UCLA in the National Team Indoors have blemished the Aggies’ record so far this spring. "They had an opportunity to beat UCLA, which I think is probably the most talented team this year," Texas coach Michael Center said. "I think Texas A&M is in that group of four or five teams that can (win it all)." But for all of the rave reviews the A&M Tennis Center receives and for all of the pinpoint passing shots All-American Shuon Madden delivers, the emergence of A&M tennis on the national scene is a direct result of perhaps A&M’s best recruiter and marketer in any sport – Tim Cass. ALL THE RIGHT MOVES When A&M’s Kent decided to step down from the men’s tennis program after 18 seasons at the helm, a lengthy and meticulous search was conducted to find Kent’s replacement in 1996. Actually, Kent knew where the search should begin and end. After A&M had played the University of New Mexico on several occasions, one player and later one coach seemed to gravitate toward A&M and Kent.
"I developed a real good friendship with him, and I could see he had the knack for getting things done," Kent said of Cass, a former doubles standout with the Lobos. "He was real aggressive trying to get the job, and he was my favorite and my pick. There were a lot of people apply, but I think the committee did the best job in picking him." Cass remembers his trips as a player to College Station fondly, taking in the atmosphere that permeates Aggieland. So when Cass realized he would probably never win a national championship as the coach of his alma mater, the A&M opening looked more appealing than ever. "As (Kent) got toward retirement, we visited a little bit about what A&M stood for," said Cass, a seven-time conference Coach of the Year. "I always thought it was a very attractive place. The people here are super and have similar values. What A&M stands for as far as loyalty, friendship, camaraderie and support… those things were the way I was brought up." Primarily Southern California-raised, Cass comes from a family of five children, who were forced to become outgoing as they moved around the country. That outreaching personality later would enable the 37-year-old Cass to become one of the nation’s most dynamic and fearless recruiters. "We were willing to go out and shake someone’s hand or say hello to people," Cass said of his time growing up. "We’re somewhat on the friendly side. My wife always gives me a hard time because we’ll be in an elevator, and I’ll just say hello to somebody or I’ll be walking in the lobby and say hello to somebody." Four years ago, despite coming off a 9-15 season and the realization of a new facility a few years away, Cass’ recruiting prowess landed A&M the nation’s top tennis signing class. In that group were Rafael de Mesa, who stayed just one season at A&M before turning pro, and current seniors Shuon Madden, Cody Hubbell and Dumitru Caradima. Despite the loss of de Mesa, the three seniors have become the backbone of one of the nation’s hottest programs. "What will go through my mind (after the season) is how appreciative I am to those guys," said Cass, who takes pride in recruiting primarily American kids in an international sport. "When I was recruiting them, we were 65th in the country and eighth place in the Big 12. For them to take a chance and buy into (A&M) and believe in what we might be able to accomplish was a huge risk for those kids. I owe an awful lot to them."
MARKETING MOGUL For all of his "GQ" good looks and recruiting persistence, Cass’ hidden talents lie in marketing and promotion. Despite the fact that men’s tennis is a non-revenue sport that drew just a sprinkling of fans five or 10 years ago, Cass has transformed the sport in College Station into a community favorite.
There was no paid admission required for men’s tennis five years ago, but a season-ticket base now has crowds swelling to the largest of any men’s team in the country. In the 4-2 win over Duke, a rocking crowd rattled the Blue Devil players from the opening serve. Even tennis legend Stan Smith, who was in attendance to watch son Ramsey play No. 2 singles, was impressed. "I thought it was good to see the crowd get into that," said Smith, who has known Cass through United States Tennis Association business. "It’s hard on the visiting team, and that’s the way it should be. The colleges are trying to get more and more fans out, and to play at night is a good way to do it. "Most of the (A&M) people handled it well. At some
schools, you get people who don’t understand tennis, but
this is a good atmosphere. It’s a great stadium, a fantastic
facility." Combine all the amenities of the A&M Tennis Center with the lure of quality college tennis, and A&M’s tennis name has gone national. "He’s created like a small Georgia down there," said North Carolina coach Sam Paul, referring to the national power and perennial host of the NCAA Championships. "There are very few places in the country that have that type of atmosphere. There’s maybe three or four, and he’s done that." Cass said when he first arrived on campus, some close to the A&M program weren’t sure his marketing and ticketing ideas would go over as well as they have. But then the slick salesman inside Cass came out; fans bought into the program; and a year from now, the Bryan-College Station community will be the host of the 2002 Men’s NCAA Championships. It will be only the fourth venue ever used for the prestigious event. "It’s a great honor for A&M and for Tim," said Notre Dame coach Bob Bayliss, whose Irish also hosted the NCAA Championships in 1994. ‘When they give that to you, you need two things going for you: The coach has to be respected, and the athletic department, program and commitment have to be acknowledged, as well." Stanford coach Dick Gould, who is essentially the John Wooden of college tennis, said Cass’ program will take a huge step forward after hosting the NCAA Championships. "It speaks well for the school and the basis they built there," said Gould, whose teams have won 17 NCAA men’s titles, including last year’s crown. "It speaks well for Tim; it’s a big thing exposure-wise; and it will help with recruiting. It gives you instant credibility, and it’s not only an honor, but something Tim would be able to take advantage of in the future."
BLEEDING MAROON When Texas A&M and Texas battled in the first-ever Texas Cup in Houston on Feb. 6, Cass had to be proud as he oversaw a match that featured two bitter rivals playing before an overflow crowd at the Westside Tennis Center. Then the Aggies lost. A noble attempt at marketing his sport had backfired somewhat, as Cass reached out to the Houston Aggie community to showcase his team. But what probably hurt even worse was losing to the Burnt Orange when the Aggies – even undermanned that day – were expected to win. He’s been here just five years, but Cass already feels the bond to this university that veteran A&M coaches like R.C. Slocum or Mark Johnson have felt for years. "In our particular sport, I thought to be in a college town would be the greatest," said Cass, whose wife Laura is an assistant district attorney in Brazos County. "Right now, we’d like to live within walking distance of A&M. If we’re here, we’d like to be able to walk to football games and baseball games. I’ve really been one of those guys who wants to take advantage of wherever you’re at. We’ve chosen to be here, and I don’t think Tim Cass is going to coach anywhere but Texas A&M unless Texas A&M decides something differently along those lines."
Don’t count on it. Cass is one of the most popular of all the A&M coaches, often drawing the likes of soccer coach G. Guerrieri, volleyball coach Laurie Corbelli and A&M football assistants Tam Hollingshead and Steve Kragthorpe (now with the Buffalo Bills) to the Aggie matches. In turn, Cass stresses to his players to support the other A&M programs, which has led to a cult following by the men’s basketball team. "He enjoys the camaraderie of this school," said assistant coach Treibly, whom Cass calls the most underrated member of the A&M program. "When he was growing up in Southern California or when he was going to school at New Mexico, I don’t think he ever experienced that type of thing. I don’t think he enjoyed the aura of a big-time university with so many options. I think he feels like it’s a real treat. Our athletes aren’t treated like college athletes, but are almost on the brink of being treated like professional athletes. That’s a tribute to A&M, the tradition and the people who are around here." While Cass realizes he is coaching at a special university, he tries to convey to his players that few universities have the perks and pride that A&M has. Cass even has his players wear the No. 12 on the back of their doubles T-shirts in honor of the 12th Man. "Often times at Texas A&M, we take things for granted," Cass added. "I’m a big proponent of not taking things for granted. Before practice one day, I told the guys just to look around. We’re very lucky. "I really believe in giving back and giving to. I hope these kids leave with an appreciation of the commitment Texas A&M made to them. Hopefully, they can go out there and be a part of this university for decades to come. And I think they will. That’s one of the things that I’m most proud of." Cass said once players like Madden and Hubbell – two diehard Aggies – leave the program, he hopes their days of following the maroon and white are just beginning. "We told Shuon one of the greatest feelings he’s ever going to have in the world is when he’s 35 years old and turns on the TV set and watches A&M in a bowl game," Cass said. "I think you should put your heart into whatever you’re doing. I really believe these kids are putting their hearts into this program and in doing so, they’ve put their hearts into this university. Once you’ve committed your heart to this place, it’s very difficult to not put your heart there forever." THE STRETCH RUN In a recent survey on the 12th Man Foundation’s website about which A&M sport would bring home the next national championship, men’s tennis was the overwhelming favorite. Of the 12,200 votes, 31 percent of the fans participating thought Cass’ crew would be the first to win a men’s national title since the 1939 football team reached the pinnacle with Jarrin’ John Kimbrough. Indeed, with a polished doubles triumvirate and sizzling singles all the way down the lineup, this could be the year a team from outside the state of California or Georgia takes the title. Cass even admits this is a special group that appears to have the goods to win it all in Athens, Ga. in late May. "You can go through life, and it’s maybe all of our dreams to have a chance to win a national championship," Cass said. "The best way to go through life is to try to take advantage of all your opportunities. And it appears we have a good opportunity. Our address to the team is focused on maturely looking at that opportunity. "The fun part is to look at the rankings, and Texas A&M is four and Stanford is five or six. That is sort of fun and shows progress. In life, you don’t know what opportunities are going to present themselves. It appears we have a group of guys who are capable of making a run. But we can still improve some things." The Aggies have now gone four straight years without dropping out of the Top 25 poll and are closing in on two straight years of living in the Top 10. They aren’t Stanford yet, but maybe the Aggies and Cass are building the next model men’s tennis program. "If he stays with it, there’s no doubt in my mind, he will be one of the guys that the younger coaches look up and say I would like to model myself after what he’s done and learn from him," said Center, a close friend of Cass even as the Longhorns’ coach. "I had the opportunity to be around Coach Gould for a couple of years and watched how he dealt with the public, how he sold his program and how he made his players believe in what was going on. I think Tim has a lot of those same qualities. There’s no doubt Tim Cass could be a Dick Gould in 15 or 20 years."
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