Jamie Hunt, who was part of Georgia’s 2007 and 2008 NCAA National Championship teams and most recently served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University, will join the Bulldogs in the same position, head coach Manuel Diaz announced on Thursday.
 
 
Hunt has spent seven seasons at Vanderbilt, including the past three as the associate head coach. The Commodores made their 15th NCAA tournament appearance in 2017 after Hunt helped the squad ink a top-5 class in 2015 as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
 
 
“So much of what makes Jamie the best is his contagious enthusiasm and joy for life and the game of tennis,” Diaz said. “There is not one moment that Jamie does not see the big picture and the best way to attack a challenge. I am looking forward to working along his side. His love for his players is evident and I believe he adds a lot to what we already teach our players.”
 
 
A U.S. Open Junior Doubles Champion, an All-SEC and All-America performer and winner of the prestigious Southeast Region ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship, Hunt was a star tennis player and leader for the Bulldogs’ tennis program from 2007 through 2010. His 116 singles wins ranks 12th all-time in school history for the four-time All-SEC selection, while his combined singles and doubles record of 238-80 ranks third in the Georgia record book.
 
 
In 2008, Hunt compiled a 39-8 singles record, which included a perfect 10-0 mark against conference opponents. The next season, he teamed with Nate Schnugg to reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles championship and earned All-America status.
 
 
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Hunt was he only junior player in history to win the Easter Bowl Doubles in the boys 14’s, 16’s and 18’s. He also earned ITF World Junior rankings as high as No. 2 in doubles and No. 26 in singles.
 
 
“It’s a dream come true to come home to UGA and be a part of the Georgia Tennis family again,” Hunt said. “Coach Diaz is the greatest coach in college tennis and I couldn’t be more excited to work with him and the guys on the team. I had the most amazing experience as a student-athlete at Georgia and I’m looking forward to helping our current and future players enjoy the same experience. I can’t wait to get started!”
 
 
Following his playing career, Hunt made his way to Nashville to become an assistant coach at Vanderbilt. The ‘Dores had an impressive year in 2013, finishing with a No. 15 ITA national ranking following an appearance in the NCAA Round of 16. Hunt then helped the Commodores to a No. 20 national ranking in 2014 as the team hosted NCAA regionals for the second year in a row. In 2015, Vanderbilt recorded its best SEC record in nearly a decade with an 8-4 mark against league opponents.
 
 
Hunt and the Commodores most recently finished with a 17-14 record, including four wins over top-25 teams, during the 2016-17 season. Under his leadership, Rhys Johnson and Cameron Klinger were named ITA All-Americans — the third and fourth players to receive All-America honors during Hunt’s time there.
 
 
Hunt met his wife, Kyndal Edwards Hunt, during their senior year at the University of Georgia. In addition to their daughter Blakely, who is 20 months old, the couple just welcomed their newborn son, Hayes, on June 14, 2017.