10/19/2026 11:19:00 AM | Men's Tennis
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - 2nd. Lt. Phillip Deaton has joined the Air Force men's tennis coaching staff as an assistant, announced today by head coach Evan Urbina. Deaton is a 2026 Academy grad, who recently completed a standout four-year career with the Falcons.
"It has always been a dream of mine to coach alongside one of my former players, and I'm thrilled to welcome Lt. Phillip Deaton to our coaching staff," Urbina said. "Having competed here as a cadet-athlete, Phil brings valuable experience of the Academy, a high tennis IQ, and a strong academic background to our program. Throughout his college tennis career, he demonstrated tremendous growth both on and off the court, resulting in his earning the 2026 National ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. I'm excited to see him use his experiences to mentor our current players and help make this program better."
Deaton amassed 115 career wins for the Falcons, including 57 in duals, across his four years with the program. As a senior Deaton earned the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for both the National honor and the Mountain Region, becoming just the second Falcon in program history to earn the accolades.
Deaton is a two-time All-Mountain West selection, earning All-MW singles as a junior and freshman. As a freshman, Deaton led the team with 44 wins and was named the 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
The Seattle, Wash., native enjoyed a standout career at Bellarmine College Prep, where he was a Washington State High School Champion. He came to the Academy as the #2 ranked player in the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
"It has always been a dream of mine to coach alongside one of my former players, and I'm thrilled to welcome Lt. Phillip Deaton to our coaching staff," Urbina said. "Having competed here as a cadet-athlete, Phil brings valuable experience of the Academy, a high tennis IQ, and a strong academic background to our program. Throughout his college tennis career, he demonstrated tremendous growth both on and off the court, resulting in his earning the 2026 National ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. I'm excited to see him use his experiences to mentor our current players and help make this program better."
Deaton amassed 115 career wins for the Falcons, including 57 in duals, across his four years with the program. As a senior Deaton earned the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for both the National honor and the Mountain Region, becoming just the second Falcon in program history to earn the accolades.
Deaton is a two-time All-Mountain West selection, earning All-MW singles as a junior and freshman. As a freshman, Deaton led the team with 44 wins and was named the 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
The Seattle, Wash., native enjoyed a standout career at Bellarmine College Prep, where he was a Washington State High School Champion. He came to the Academy as the #2 ranked player in the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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