Roland Thornqvist - Former Florida Women's Tennis Head Coach On Pressure, Poise, & The Importance Of Body Language

Building Excellence with Bailey Miles

#189: Roland Thornqvist is the University of Florida Women’s Tennis former head coach and 4X National Champion. Thornqvist owns a remarkable 582-157 head coaching record in 28 years, including a 507-107 mark at Florida.
In 20+ years with Thornqvist on the sidelines, some of Florida’s more significant highlights include four NCAA Team National Championships (2003, 2011, 2012, & 2017), as well as 11 SEC regular-season titles (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 & 2016) and 10 SEC Tournament crowns (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2016).
Individually, Thornqvist has been honored as the ITA National Coach of the Year (2011), the ITA Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2010 & 2012) and the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2010, 2013 & 2016).
The Sweden native climbed the charts in 2022, in terms of NCAA historical success as he ranked top 10 all-time in Division I winning percentage (8th, .808) and top 20 in all-time wins (12th, 512). In July 2020, Thornqvist was among the top NCAA Division I active head coaches carrying the fourth-highest winning percentage and the eighth-most victories.
He has guided Florida to 11 NCAA ‘final four’ appearances, with four culminating in titles and two as national runner-up (2002 & 2010). Before arriving in Gainesville he was the head coach at UNC and KU. Thornqvist also played professional tennis for one year after completing his collegiate eligibility, attaining a world ranking of No. 290 in singles.
Thornqvist established himself as one of the top players in the history of the ACC during his collegiate career. He was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection, the 1993 ACC Player of the Year, a 1992 and 1993 first-team All-American and a 1992 and 1993 NCAA Tournament quarterfinalist in singles. In 1992, he led the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship and to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels also made the NCAA Tournament during his senior season, advancing to the round of 16. Thornqvist won the 1993 Rolex National Indoor Singles Championship as a senior. In both 1992 and 1993, he won the ITA’s Rafael Osuna National Sportsmanship Award. He is the only college player in history to win that award twice. Thornqvist was the No. 4-ranked collegiate singles player in the country his senior year.
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Thornqvist received his bachelor’s degree in economics from UNC in 1996. He played for the Tar Heels from 1990-93, transferring from Elon College, where he played one year and won the NAIA singles and doubles championships as a freshman in 1990. He also led Elon to the NAIA team championship that year. More importantly you will see how he has been able to build and sustain success. Enjoy the show!