It’s May 2023.
I’m sitting in my Fidus office in New York City, an independent investment bank and investment firm I co-founded in 2005, when I received a phone call from Rick Hart, the athletic director at SMU.
I’ve been working in the investment banking space for more than 25 years.
And I’ve been fortunate to experience a decent amount of professional success during that time.
But when it comes to accomplishments, this phone call will undoubtedly hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.
He told me that I was being inducted into the SMU Hall of Fame.
I was at a loss for words, and I just sat there and thought about all the great memories I’ve had on the Hilltop.
My time at SMU was the most fun I’ve ever had playing tennis, and I’m so grateful for the relationships and memories that were created along the way.
My journey to SMU started like so many others.
I was a young tennis player from Gainesville, Florida who was looking to play at the next level and have success on the court.
But before I ever picked up a tennis racket, I was a competitive swimmer.
From the ages of 5 to 11, I was a top-10 swimmer in many events in the nation. With my coach, Eddie Reese, who eventually became the head coach at the University of Texas, I was able to develop a strong work ethic and determination to be the best I could be.
Reese would end up moving to another swim team, which unfortunately took away my passion for the pool.
Instead, I looked to a sport my father played for many years and had become a family recreation: tennis.
I started playing competitive tennis at the age of 11, and it didn’t take long for me to see success on the court.
At age 12, I finished 3rd in the state championships and qualified for the nationals. I made it all the way to the quarterfinals, beating the #5 seed in the first round.
I saw some early success, and I owe much of that to the great shape I was in from my days in the pool.
I won the Florida state championships at ages 14, 16 and 18 and became the nation’s top-ranked 18 and under player.
I was lucky to have the opportunity to reach the highest level of junior tennis in the nation.
But my parents would continue to make sure that my grades were in good shape, too.
Their emphasis on academics would pay off, as I would maintain a near 4.0 GPA throughout high school, setting me up for many potential opportunities to play college tennis, including offers from Stanford, UCLA, and of course, SMU.
Dennis Ralston, the SMU coach at the time, started recruiting me when I was 16. I only went through the recruiting process with SMU because of him and his successful tennis career.
I never knew much about SMU or Texas as a whole until he reached out.
Once I set foot on campus for a visit, though, I realized SMU was the school for me. I loved the campus, the people I met on the team, and the overall atmosphere.
It just felt right.
My time at SMU was a whirlwind of success on and off the court. I was able to play against the best players in the country while also developing relationships and memories that would last a lifetime.
We would finish in the top six nationally each of my seasons at SMU, including a runner-up finish in 1983 and final four finishes in 1985 and 1986, but unfortunately, we never took home that NCAA title.
Yet, I look back on my time there as the most fun I’ve ever had playing tennis.
There is something very special about college tennis, and SMU allowed me to experience that in every way possible.
I have nothing but great memories and a deep appreciation for all the time I spent on the Hilltop.
Before joining SMU, I got to compete in some of the Junior Grand Slams, where I reached the quarterfinals in boys’ singles of the US Open (1981) and Wimbledon (1982). I also made it to the Wimbledon boys’ doubles finals with Rick Leach and lost to Pat Cash and John Frawley in 1982.
At the time, I did think about turning pro right after high school, but fortunately, my parents put a lot of emphasis on education and academics which obviously allowed me to land at SMU.
After college tennis, I did get my chance of playing professionally as well, though.
I was ranked in the Top 100 in the world in 1988 and got to compete at all four Grand Slams, reaching second rounds at Wimbledon and the US Open that same year.
I had a blast on the professional tour, but when it was time to hang up the racket, I decided to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School and launch a career in finance and investment banking.
When I first arrived in Dallas, I wasn’t really thinking about the Hall of Fame.
I was just a young, ambitious tennis player who was looking to develop his game and compete at the highest level.
Looking back on my career, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without my time at SMU. In addition to getting a great education, I built relationships with a number of people who have had a huge impact on my life.
It gave me the opportunity to grow and develop as a student, tennis player, and person, and I will always be grateful for the experience.
It’s an absolute honor and a privilege to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, no doubt.
It’s a phone call I’ll never forget, and I can’t wait to celebrate this honor with my family and friends.
I’m beyond proud to have my name etched in the history of SMU Athletics.
The inductees will be recognized at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Friday, September 20 in Armstrong Fieldhouse on the SMU Campus. For additional information or for tickets to the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, click here.