NORFOLK, Va. – Former Norfolk State Tennis head coach Darryl Cummings, a legendary figure in the Hampton Roads community, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday night at the age of 59.
 
Cummings spent three seasons at Norfolk State (2017-2019) as the head men's and women's tennis coach, after accumulating over 600 wins during more than 20 years as a head coach at the NCAA level. He spent the longest stretch of his career as the head coach at Old Dominion, also spending multiple years at nearby Virginia Wesleyan.
 
"It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Darryl Cummings, the former head tennis coach at Norfolk State University. Coach Cummings was not only a respected figure in the tennis community but also a mentor and inspiration to many. His dedication to the sport and his ability to instill passion and commitment in his players made a lasting impact. Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Cummings' family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him. May his legacy continue to inspire us to strive for excellence both on and off the tennis court."
 
Cummings led the Spartan men to three consecutive winning records in conference play, while tallying an 11-6 MEAC record in three years with the women's program.
 
During his time at Norfolk State, the Spartans landed five All-MEAC selections, including four players on the All-MEAC First Team. One of those student-athletes, Andres Alcaraz, would become the men's program's third-ever MEAC Player of the Year in 2021.
 
During the 2017 season, Cummings led both programs to winning conference records, as the women's team achieved its first undefeated home campaign since 2008. The men defeated North Carolina Central 4-2 in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals for the program's first conference tournament victory since 2014.
 
The Norfolk State men's team went 9-6 in 2018, 3-1 in MEAC play to finish second in the Northern Division. Alcaraz was named to the men's All-MEAC First Team while Dajana Cvjetkovic received First Team honors on the women's side. It marked the first time Norfolk State's men's and women's programs both landed student-athletes on the All-MEAC First Team in the same year since 2003.
 
Cummings served as the head coach of the Old Dominion women's tennis team for 20 years from 1992-2011, including the last 17 seasons as the head coach of the men's team as well. He was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year on six occasions, coaching 14 CAA Players of the Year, four Rookies of the Year, six All-Americans and more than 40 Academic All-Americans.
 
Cummings earned United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Virginia Coach of the Year honors in 1994 and 1996, while also receiving the organization's Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year award in 1989 and 1993.
 
A standout player at ODU, Cummings led the Monarchs to a 20-3 mark in 1986, their first-ever 20-win season. He captured the 1985 Virginia State singles championship and the Sun Belt Conference doubles championship in 1986.
 
Cummings earned an associate's degree from Lees-McRae College in 1984, a bachelor's degree from ODU in arts and letters in 1992, and a master's degree from ODU in sports management in 2003.