NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State Athletics will unveil a deserving tribute to an iconic, trailblazing figure on Saturday afternoon.
Norfolk State will rename the NSU Tennis Complex to the "Nat Warren Tennis Center," with the ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 20.
The event will celebrate the career and accomplishments of former head tennis coach Nat Warren, the winningest coach in the history of the program.
Warren spent 17 years as the men's head coach and 15 as the women's head coach, retiring in 2009 with a 402-216 record (.615 winning percentage). After retiring in 2009, he returned to the program as an assistant coach in 2014, serving on the staff for several winning campaigns.
A legendary figure in the Hampton Roads area, Warren spearheaded the tennis program as the team's first head coach. He guided the Spartans across multiple levels, keeping the program steady while transitioning from Division II to Division I.
Warren was named the CIAA Coach of the Year in 1994, before leading the Spartan men to back-to-back CIAA Titles in 1996 and 1997. In the Spartans first season at the Division I level, the men's team produced a spectacular 17-1 overall record.
The Norfolk State women went to multiple MEAC Championship matches during his time at the helm, earning MEAC Tournament Runner-Up honors in 2000 and 2002. In 1996, Avi Kigel was named the CIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player.
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