Rikus de Villiers is entering his 13th season on the UCLA Bruins men’s tennis coaching staff in 2025-26, and marks his 6th year in the role of Associate Head Coach following his promotion in June 2018. He arrived at UCLA in fall 2012, initially serving as volunteer assistant and then assistant coach before gaining the associate head coach title. His early years on staff were highly successful: during his first five seasons, UCLA posted an overall record of 124-25 (.832) and compiled a 32-3 mark in Pac-12 regular-season play, capturing conference tournament titles in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
A native of Durban, South Africa, de Villiers played collegiate tennis at Pepperdine University and later at California State University, Fresno, where he was All-Western Athletic Conference in singles and doubles, reached a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 83, and competed at the NCAA Championships. His international junior career included multiple African championships and ATP points earned at age 14. At UCLA he has helped develop standout players who attained NCAA individual championships and ATP/Grand Slam careers, including doubles champions and top-100 singles players. The Bruins’ transition into the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25 featured a thrilling run to the Big Ten Tournament championship and NCAA quarterfinals, with de Villiers playing a key coaching role.
