Todd Helbling has built a remarkable tenure at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) as the head coach of its men’s tennis program. Since his hiring in spring 1999, Helbling has guided the Eagles to sustained success, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament in 21 of his first 24 seasons. Under his leadership, UMW posted standout campaigns: 22 wins in 2007 and 2008, 21 wins in both 2014 and 2015, the most successful stretch in program history. Helbling’s record at UMW stands at 407–180 at the time of his profile.
Before arriving at UMW, Helbling was a strong collegiate player—at Millsaps College he earned captain and MVP honors and was nationally ranked during his junior and senior seasons. He then earned a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1990. His early coaching career included serving as assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach and head men’s soccer coach at Washington (MD) College, where the men’s soccer team captured two NCAA Division III national championships. He also served at Slippery Rock University. At UMW his coaching philosophy emphasizes the marriage of academic excellence, athletic opportunity and a first-class facility to build one of the top Division III programs in the country. Off the court, Helbling and his wife Kelli live in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and are parents to seven children.
