Bill Maze retires as UC Davis head women's tennis coach

Legendary coach and player was an All-American on and off the court

“Bill is just a great human being,” said former Stanford teammate and seven-time grand slam winner John McEnroe. “I think people have gravitated toward him because he’s such a likeable guy and that’s been part of his success as a coach.”

Bill Maze with a few words of advice for his Aggie squad

What was rumored in Aggie circles is now official. Legendary women's tennis coach Bill Maze has retired after 29 years directing an enormously successful program, including a seamless transition to Division I during his tenure.

Maze, who took over the Aggie program after serving for five years as head women's coach at University of the Pacific, was a three-time All-American at Stanford, which at the time was the top men's tennis program in the country. He captained two NCAA championship teams in 1977 and 1978, the latter team going undefeated.

 “It’s been a great 29 years at UC Davis," Maze noted.

"I feel very, very lucky, but at the same time, I’m old and it’s time to move on and pass the baton.”

The Aggie legend has been named conference Coach of the Year five times, coached two All-Americans and countless All-Conference honorees, and from 2000-02 led the Aggies to three-straight California Collegiate Athletics Association team titles.

“Bill is just a great human being,” said former Stanford teammate and seven-time grand slam winner John McEnroe. “I think people have gravitated toward him because he’s such a likeable guy and that’s been part of his success as a coach.”

Maze, in fact, thrilled local tennis fans a few years ago when he brought McEnroe to the UC Davis campus for an exhibition match, making McEnroe the highest ranked player ever to grace the Aggie courts.

Noted UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca, "Bill Maze's impact on UC Davis women's tennis cannot be overstated. His commitment to developing not just exceptional athletes, but remarkable individuals, has left an indelible mark on our program. Bill's legacy of leadership and integrity will continue to inspire future generations.”

Maze ends his career ranked 30th all-time on the ITA women’s tennis head coach active career wins list, finishing with 327 wins over his historic career.

Bill Maze as a player at Stanford

Maze was also honored by the prestigious United States Tennis Association in 2014 when he was elected to the Northern California Hall of Fame for his success at Stanford as a student-athlete and then as a head coach at both UOP and UCD.

“It’s hard to imagine what the UC Davis women’s tennis program is going to be without Coach Bill,” said current Cal Poly SLO women’s tennis head coach and former Aggie, Ellie Edles Williams. “His dedication to the program created an environment for student-athletes to grow so much more than beyond the tennis courts.

“Coach Bill’s strong sense of character, his dedication to his athletes, and the memories and friendships I made while a student-athlete at UC Davis helped shape me into the coach and mother that I am today.”

In 1977, his junior year at Stanford, Maze was awarded the Rafael Osuna Award, given each year to the nation’s best men’s tennis player who showcased sportsmanship, competitiveness and contributions to the game.

“He was one of the best team players I’ve ever had, and his teammates really cared about him, and he cared about them,” said longtime Stanford head coach Dick Gould. “He had already won the U16 National Championship and was a highly ranked 18-year-old when he stepped on campus.

“He was a big kid who could volley the ball well. He went 18-1 in his freshman year, then we got him into the lineup at No. 1 or No. 2 over the final three years. His moral ethics, character and ability to keep wins and losses in perspective always impressed me. And I’ve always respected him as a person and how he’s handled himself.”

In Stanford’s ’78 undefeated season, Maze was paired with what would become one of his best friends in tennis, John McEnroe. The pair would reach the semifinals of the 1978 NCAA National Championships, only falling in the match because the two of them had faced off in singles shortly beforehand in an unlucky draw that created a friction that carried into their doubles match.

“Bill and I ended up linking up as a doubles team and we worked well together,” recalled McEnroe. “Bill was excellent at net, and he was a good compliment to what I was doing. My only bummer in college was that we didn’t lose a match together until the semifinals at the 1978 NCAA National Championships.

“We had just played against each other in singles and things had gotten a little edgy. But despite that finish, and while I’m biased, I think that 1978 team is the best that Stanford has ever had.

“I went to Stanford because I wanted to be part of a team and Bill took me under his wing," added McEnroe. “We bonded over the fact that we were two guys trying to find our way. And when you have someone who is a bit older than you, it’s great to have someone to look up to and show you the ropes.”

Maze took a crack at the pro ranks following his career at Stanford, but injuries would slow him down. Maze’s competitive spirit carried him through, allowing for a successful playing career stretching from 1978-84 that saw him crack the ATP world top-200 on several occasions.

Following his playing career and a stint as Director of Tennis at the Harbor Bay Club, Maze stepped into the college coaching ranks for the first time when he took the head job at University of the Pacific ahead of the 1990 season.

While at Pacific, Maze turned around a program that needed direction, winning Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1995. He led the Tigers to a No. 34 ranking in the ITA Division I poll.

Following that season, Maze took an interest in the open head coaching position at UC Davis.

"I feel so incredibly lucky that Dr. Keith Williams (UC Davis Director of Athletics at the time and Cal Aggie Hall of Famer) hired me in 1995,” recalled Maze. “When I was getting the tour around the campus and town I thought ‘Man, I hope I get this job’. ”

He got the job.

And while Maze was thrilled to secure the position, it was the Aggies who would gain the most from the next 29 years.

During that time, Maze led the Aggies to 224 wins and 73 conference victories. He led the Aggies through uncharted waters when UC Davis made the jump from Division II to Division I in 2006. He was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2011 and led the Aggies to three-straight CCAA titles (2000-02).

“I’ve always been impressed with how he handles his athletes,” remarked Gould, his coach at Stanford and arguably the most successful coach in men's collegiate tennis.

“He’s not an in-your-face kind of coach and my feeling was that his players respected him, and they had a great relationship. He was demanding, but not disrespectful, and I think he was a perfect fit at Davis.”

Maze piloted his teams at Davis to eight appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championships, reaching the quarterfinals five times. In 2000 he coached Jill Howard and Britni Webb as a Division II All-American doubles team.

“Bill tried to create an environment where our student-athletes could enjoy their experience at UC Davis and with each other,” said current UC Davis women’s tennis assistant coach and former Aggie Sara Jackson. “He was extremely successful with this, and in doing so our student-athletes became invested not only in their own success, but in the success of their teammates, our athletic department,and UC Davis.”

Jackson played under Coach Maze in her final two seasons at UC Davis and was part of two CCAA title-winning teams. Over a total of two stints, she has coached with Maze for 19 seasons.

“Bill knows more about the game of tennis than anybody I have ever met,” added Jackson. “And going to work each day hasn't felt like something I've had to do, but rather something, as his assistant, I get to do. My entire time with Bill, both as a player and as a coach, he has always made me feel appreciated, valued and trusted.”

Following the jump from Division II, Maze helped the Aggies solidify themselves as a Division I program. In 2012 the Aggies competed in the Big West Tournament quarterfinals for the first time in program history and in 2013 he led the Aggies to a pair of top 65 wins.

Under Maze’s direction, the Aggies saw success in the classroom as well, earning an NCAA Public Recognition Award in 2020 following a perfect Academic Progress Rate score. This was the 12th perfect score in program history and the highest total of any men’s or women’s team sponsored by the Big West.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to stay in the Big West to still compete against coach, and his mentorship continues to inspire me,” said Williams at Cal Poly SLO.

“I can’t say congratulations enough. And I would like to thank coach Maze for providing such a supportive environment for myself and so many other young athletes to grow in.”

Those relationships built on and off the court will be the legacy of Bill Maze.

"Coach Maze's tenure at UC Davis has been characterized by excellence both on and off the court”, added DeLuca, UCD's Director of Athletics. “His ability to cultivate talent and foster a supportive and competitive environment has been a cornerstone of our success. We are deeply grateful for his 29 years of dedicated service as an Aggie and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement."

“Over the course of a career and a lifetime there are only a handful of people who you feel stay in your life,” added McEnroe. “Bill is a friend for life, and he is part of a handful of people that I feel I’ve created a bond with, and you can’t break that.”

The memories of wins and losses might fade, but Maze’s time as Aggie coach and the relationships he built on and off the court, and the young women who he has helped enter the world confidently, will not be forgotten by many at UC Davis and in the vibrant City of Davis tennis community.

You can reach me directly at bobdunning@thewaryone.com

(UC Davis Sports Information contributed to this story.)