BIOGRAPHY ~ CLANCY SHIELDS2019, 2021 & 2024 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
2019 & 2024 ITA Southwest Region Coach of the Year
2016 Mountain West Coach of the Year
2016 Wilson/ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year
Clancy Shields, who has extended his contract through 2028, has guided the Wildcats to the program's first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship, three consecutive Pac-12 Regular Season Championships, three Sweet 16 appearance and an undefeated home record in the 2023 season. The Cats have also hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament for two straight seasons under Shields. He has led the team to a number of program-best rankings and coached senior captain Jonas Ziverts to the program's first ITA Southwest Region Player of the Year award.
Widely recognized as one of the youngest and most dynamic coaches in college tennis, Shields has led the Wildcats back into the national spotlight with four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2019. The 2024 campaign was perhaps the most history in program history as Arizona won the Pac-12 Tournament Championship and the Pac-12 Regular Season Championship. Shields led the Wildcats to the squad's best-ever ITA ranking during the 2024 season, checking in as high as No. 5. He was recognized as the ITA Southwest Region Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Under the guidance of Shields, Colton Smith and Jay Friend became the first Wildcat tandem to be named Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year. Smith, Friend and Gustaf Strom each were named to the All-Pac-12 Team while Nick Lagaev and Herman Hoeyeraal tabbed All-Pac-12 Second Team honors. Casper Christensen additionally garnered All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition.
Smith made a run in the 2024 NCAA Singles Championships, defeating four ranked opponents on his way to the tournament semifinals. He became the program's first All-American since the 2006 season in the process.
Shields was hired at Arizona after three seasons as the head coach at Utah State, where he led the Aggies to the 2016 Mountain West title and was named Wilson/ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year and MWC Coach of the Year.
Shields helped take a USU program that was last in the conference to one that set school records for victories in both his second (18) and third (21) seasons. The Aggies increased their national relevance under his tutelage as they climbed as high as No. 62 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings during Shields' second season, which was a program record, before they reached No. 56 last season. In addition, Shields mentored four All-Mountain West performers and the 2016 Mountain West Player of the Year during his tenure.
Prior to his time at USU, Shields served as an assistant coach at Boise State from 2010-13, helping the Broncos to back-to-back Mountain West Championships. The Broncos advanced to their third NCAA Tournament with Shields in 2013.
As a student-athlete at Boise State, Shields was named the 2009 WAC Player of the Year and earned All-WAC first-team honors for both doubles and singles play seven times. He led the Broncos to three WAC titles (2006, '07, '09) and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Shields was ranked as high as No. 17 in singles and No. 11 in doubles by the ITA.
A 2010 graduate of Boise State with a degree in kinesiology, Shields was a four-time Academic All-WAC honoree and a first-team Academic All-American in 2007.
Under the guidance of Shields, Colton Smith and Jay Friend became the first Wildcat tandem to be named Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year. Smith, Friend and Gustaf Strom each were named to the All-Pac-12 Team while Nick Lagaev and Herman Hoeyeraal tabbed All-Pac-12 Second Team honors. Casper Christensen additionally garnered All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition.
Smith made a run in the 2024 NCAA Singles Championships, defeating four ranked opponents on his way to the tournament semifinals. He became the program's first All-American since the 2006 season in the process.
Shields was hired at Arizona after three seasons as the head coach at Utah State, where he led the Aggies to the 2016 Mountain West title and was named Wilson/ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year and MWC Coach of the Year.
Shields helped take a USU program that was last in the conference to one that set school records for victories in both his second (18) and third (21) seasons. The Aggies increased their national relevance under his tutelage as they climbed as high as No. 62 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings during Shields' second season, which was a program record, before they reached No. 56 last season. In addition, Shields mentored four All-Mountain West performers and the 2016 Mountain West Player of the Year during his tenure.
Prior to his time at USU, Shields served as an assistant coach at Boise State from 2010-13, helping the Broncos to back-to-back Mountain West Championships. The Broncos advanced to their third NCAA Tournament with Shields in 2013.
As a student-athlete at Boise State, Shields was named the 2009 WAC Player of the Year and earned All-WAC first-team honors for both doubles and singles play seven times. He led the Broncos to three WAC titles (2006, '07, '09) and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Shields was ranked as high as No. 17 in singles and No. 11 in doubles by the ITA.
A 2010 graduate of Boise State with a degree in kinesiology, Shields was a four-time Academic All-WAC honoree and a first-team Academic All-American in 2007.
