Guided by legendary head coach Sunday Enitan, the Shaw men’s and women’s tennis teams have dominated the CIAA the last two decades.
Since his coaching debut at Shaw in 2000, the Bears and Lady Bears have combined to win 22 CIAA championships. Under his direction, Shaw has become a CIAA powerhouse and NCAA Division II contender.
In addition to Shaw’s team accolades, Enitan has won numerous CIAA Coach of the Year awards. Many of his players have earned CIAA Player of the Year and All-CIAA honors.
In April 2023, the Lady Bears claimed their 12th conference crown - including its fifth in a row - since 2002. The Shaw men’s team was the flagship program in the CIAA - winning 10 championships - before the conference discontinued sponsoring men’s tennis in 2017. The men’s team currently competes as an independent.
The 2023 season was another banner year for the program as both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for the NCAA Division II Regionals. This was the sixth time under Enitan that both teams were NCAA qualifiers the same year.
That was the latest of many highlights for the Shaw tennis program and Enitan, a Nigeria native who was a standout tennis player at his alma mater from 1990-1994. Enitan is in the Shaw Athletics Hall of Fame.
Below are other highlights:
* The Shaw Men’s Team has played in 11 NCAA Division II Tournaments (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2023).
* The Shaw Men’s Team is a two-time NCAA Regional Champ and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 Championships twice (2011, 2012).
* Shaw is believed to be the first CIAA Team to host a NCAA Division II Men’s Regional (2011).
* The Shaw Women’s Team played in 11 NCAA Division II Tournaments (2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).
* The Lady Bears are the five-time defending CIAA Champions.
* Shaw Men’s CIAA Tennis Titles Under Enitan – 10 - (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015).
*Shaw Women’s CIAA Tennis Titles Under Enitan – 12 - (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).
