Jon McBride | Posted: 8 Dec 2020 | Updated: 30 Jan 2021

Legendary Tennis Coach Wayne Pearce Passes Away at age 84
Wayne Pearce Graphic

 

PROVO, Utah — Legendary BYU men’s tennis coach Wayne Pearce passed away Sunday night in Provo. Born May 12, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Pearce was 84 years old.

Pearce coached the BYU men’s tennis team from 1964-1979, amassing 203 wins and 73 losses. His .736 winning percentage is the best in program history. Five of his teams finished in the top 10 in the country. They also won or shared six conference titles.

Pearce took his teams to Europe three times to face international competition. They came home with a record of 21 wins and only four losses.

As an undergraduate at the University of Utah, Wayne was the number one singles player for three years. Wayne continued his association with BYU as a teacher in the Marriott School of Management.

 

Wayne-Pearce and Ernest-Hartvigsen with tennis rackets at the indoor tennis courts

Instrumental in the construction of the Indoor Tennis Courts Building were Dr. Milton F. Hartvigsen, dean of the College of Physical Education, left and tennis coach Wayne Pearce.

 

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