Gamecocks Tennis Camp at University of South Carolina

“A mistake a lot of coaches and CEOs make is putting the product first,” Goffi said. “They go after that instant gratification or the immediate profit. That’s easy. We can recruit those kids to get immediate results. But what we do is go after the kid with the character and the backbone to take on that heavy load to really be successful, and the end result is going to be something phenomenal. That is what we’re looking for – kids who have the depth that can take the progression to be a Gamecock tennis player. We attack the person first, get in there to develop those skills and steps, those character traits that are necessary for success. From there, the tennis is easy. At some point, your tools will be there. But, a tennis player is not built on tools. That is just part of the game. The actual successful tennis player has a deep, deep well that he can dig into. So, you have to develop that trait first.”

Goffi’s culture has bred success with the Gamecocks earning an NCAA Tournament bid nine times in his tenure. Averaging 20 wins over the last six regular seasons (2020 cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic), South Carolina has finished each of those in the ITA Top-25, marking the first such stretch in program history. Under Goffi, the Gamecocks have collected nine All-American honors, 20 All-SEC selections and the program’s first SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. In 2019, Paul Jubb became the first NCAA National Champion and the fourth Gamecock to play at Wimbledon. He also collected the program’s second Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award. In 2021, Daniel Rodrigues matched Jubb’s program-best final singles ranking of No. 3 after advancing to the final match of the NCAA Singles Championship.

The 2023 season was arguably one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Gamecocks ended with a final record of 22-7 and a final ranking of No. 8, the highest final ranking since the 1989 season. During the season, the team peaked at a new program-high rankings of No. 2 in the nation after upsetting then-No. 4 Ohio State. After an up-and-down SEC season and a less-than-stellar appearance in the SEC Championships, the team regrouped and made their way into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament following an upset of No. 8 seed Tennessee on their home courts in Knoxville. Their trip to the quarterfinals was the first since the 1989 season. Following the conclusion of dual play, Goffi had two players earn automatic qualifications into the NCAA Singles Tournament as No. 9-16 seeds as well as the No. 1 overall seed in the Doubles Tournament. Both players earned singles and doubles All-American honors for their performances throughout the season. Also during the 2022-23 season came the program’s first ITA All-American Championship title in doubles (Connor Thomson & Toby Samuel). The same duo that won the national title in the fall held the program’s first No. 1 ITA Doubles Ranking for all but one week of the regular season and became the program’s first to hold a year-end No. 1 ranking. The efforts led Goffi to his third consecutive Wilson/ITA Carolina Region Coach of the Year honors.

In 2022, Goffi led his team to a season unlike any other. Finishing with a final record of 23-7, the Gamecocks ended the season with a final ranking of No. 10. The team stacked up a total of 12 ranked wins, including the programs first true road win over the nation’s top ranked team, taking down No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville. Goffi’s group went on the earn the No. 2 seed in the SEC Championships, the highest seed that the program has ever seen. Following conference championships, the Gamecocks earned the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Championships, hosting the first and second rounds. South Carolina advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the second consecutive year where they fell to Virginia who went on to win the title. Goffi continued his stellar coaching efforts into the NCAA singles and doubles championships where he coached Daniel Rodrigues on to the singles round of 16 and coached Rodrigues and partner Connor Thomson through to the doubles semifinals, the furthest that a Gamecock doubles pair had ever advanced. Rodrigues and Thomson both earned All-American honors for their efforts, making Goffi the only coach in program history to coach both a singles and doubles All-American in the same season. Goffi’s team swept the ITA End of Season Regional Rankings and he was named the Wilson ITA Carolina Regional Coach of the Year.

The 2021 season was one that filled the record books, which propelled Goffi to his second career ITA Carolina Region Coach of the Year honors. With a record of 17-10 on the year, the team was selected to the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2005. The team ended the season with a final ranking of No. 13, the program’s best final ranking since 1988-89. Three Gamecocks earned All-SEC status, including a pair of first-team selections for the second time in as many seasons. Goffi’s team also boasted the ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year (Toby Samuel) for the second time in the last three seasons. Rodrigues’ run to the Singles National Championship match made South Carolina the first program to have back-to-back finalists since Baylor in 2004-05.

Nobody could have expected what was to come of the 2020 season. The team began with 5 straight wins and was working their way up the rankings with an 8-3 record before the season was unexpectedly cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the shortened 2020 season, the Gamecocks rose to No. 12 in the national rankings, the program’s highest mark since 2006.

Goffi experienced a pair of firsts in 2019 as he coached junior Paul Jubb to the NCAA Singles National Championship – the first in program history – and went on to watch his protégé compete in the Main Draw at Wimbledon. Overall, the Gamecocks continued to thrive under his leadership with a 18-10 record, a No. 19 final ranking and a spot in the SEC Tournament semifinals and the NCAA Tournament. Jubb and Daniel Rodrigues became the first Gamecock duo to earn First-Team All-SEC status and went on to collect regional ITA honors as well.

Goffi’s leadership skills and development of a resilient culture was in full display during the 2018 season as the Gamecocks battled through the SEC season with a roster that, at times, featured only six healthy players. Despite having to manage injuries and roster changes, the Gamecocks reached their fifth NCAA Tournament with a first-round win over Old Dominion to cement their first back-to-back ITA Top-25 finishes since 2003. Additionally, South Carolina went 7-5 in SEC play to earn the first ever back-to-back winning seasons in program history.

The 2017 season was perhaps the most successful under Goffi as Carolina went 21-7 overall with a 9-3 SEC record, its first 20-win season since 2005 and the most SEC wins in the program’s history. The Gamecocks would pick up their second NCAA Tournament win under coach Goffi with a 5-0 win over East Tennessee State while Gabriel Friedrich, Harrison O’Keefe and Yancy Dennis earned bids to the NCAA Individual Championships. South Carolina finished its historic regular season with five ranked wins as five different Gamecocks notched 20 or more singles wins.

The Gamecocks opened the 2014 SEC season dropping four straight matches and fell to 7-9 on the season before pulling out of the skid to win three straight and nine of their last 13 to earn their third-straight NCAA Tournament selection. The season culminated in the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2005 and Andrew Adam’s All-America performance at the NCAA Singles Championships.

During the 2013 campaign, the Gamecocks powered their way to an 18-11 record and a No. 18 final ranking, the program’s highest since 2005. Goffi’s third season also saw South Carolina post the most SEC wins in school history and earn its highest conference finish since joining the league in the 1991-92 campaign. Three Gamecocks earned All-SEC honors in 2013 and Tsvetan Mihov earned the first All-American honors for the South Carolina program since 2003. Following the Gamecocks’ breakout campaign, Goffi brought in SEC and ITA Carolina Region Coach of the Year honors.

Goffi proved that he can develop that successful tennis player right out of the gate. In his second season (2011-12), Goffi turned a team that routinely played with three freshmen and two sophomores in the singles lineup into one that finished the season ranked No. 41 in the nation, earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament and boasted two entries in the final singles rankings as well as a top-30 doubles tandem. The youthful group doubled the team’s overall and SEC win totals from the previous season, including seven wins over ranked teams with five of those coming on the road. The team grew steadily into its success, closing the regular season by winning five of its last 10 matches before heading into postseason action.

Goffi’s coaching philosophies have been shaped by some of the best coaches in the world, including his father, 1991 World Coach of the Year Carlos Goffi. The younger Goffi grew up around tennis’ elite watching his father coach the likes of John and Patrick McEnroe, Peter Fleming and Mary Carillo, and the breadth of his exposure to elite level players and coaches helped formulate the basic tenets of his program.

Immediately a prominent recruiter, Goffi honed his coaching skills as an assistant at Arizona State (women’s, 2006-08) and Duke (2008-10), earning regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors at both (2008 West, 2010 Carolina).

Goffi’s coaching career began after spending four years on the ATP Tour from 2001-05 where he rose as high as No. 121 in doubles with 18 doubles titles. He rose to as high as No. 488 in the ATP singles rankings with six top-100 wins that included a straight-set victory over Stanislas Wawrinka.

As a college player, Goffi was a three-time All-ACC selection at Clemson University winning both singles and doubles conference championships in 1999. He helped the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and rose to as high as No. 9 in the national singles rankings and No. 3 in doubles. Off the court, Goffi was a two-time Academic All-ACC selection and earned the Tigers’ “Mr. Clutch Award” in 2001 for displaying the courage, heart and determination necessary to pull through at crucial times. He finished his college career with an 84-64 singles record and an 85-50 mark in doubles matches. Goffi earned his bachelor of science in financial management in 2001.

Goffi is married to the former Nancy Augustyniak, a former professional soccer player who spent time with the United States National Team in 2000 and 2001 after a standout career at Clemson. The couple has two daughters, Eliana and Clara.

Before joining the Gamecocks, Epley spent the prior four years as a full-time traveling coach for WTA player Megan Moulton-Levy and her doubles partner, Lindsay Lee-Waters. It was not the first time, however, that Epley worked with players at the highest level in the world. He has also served as a personal traveling coach for Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder, and was the head coach of the St. Louis Aces in the World Team Tennis league. Epley was also an assistant for the U.S. Olympic team for the 2000 Sydney games and was an assistant for the U.S. Federation Cup team from 1997 to 2002. In both instances, he worked with tennis legend and close friend and mentor Billie Jean King. Epley has also been an instructor at the renowned Nick Bolliettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.

Epley’s distinct background of coaching at the collegiate level combined with his experience among the professional ranks has given him a unique blend of tennis knowledge. That knowledge has translated into the creation of a developmental program at South Carolina geared toward helping players who aspire to compete on the WTA. Since coming to Columbia, his practices and philosophy have paid dividends for the Gamecocks with a culture focused on energy, attitude and commitment.

After seeing the 2019-20 season canceled due to COVID-19, Epley guided the Gamecocks to their 26th NCAA Appearance in a row, which tied for the eighth longest active streak in the nation. South Carolina also earned its 30th NCAA bid in 39 chances, making it one of only 13 schools in the country with at least 30 appearances. His 2020-21 squad got off to a rough start that saw it 4-9 overall and 1-5 in the SEC after 13 matches, but Epley managed to help his team engineer an outstanding turnaround. The Gamecocks ran off six league victories in a row and finished with a 7-6 record in SEC play, their fifth winning record in the conference in a row to establish a new program record. The Gamecocks also advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals after upsetting No. 2-seeded Florida in the quarterfinals.

The 2018-19 season was perhaps the most successful in Carolina history. Not only did the team advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in school history, Epley led the Gamecocks to their first SEC Championship in program history. On the way to the title, South Carolina toppled Florida, Vanderbilt and No. 1-ranked Georgia, becoming just the fourth school in the Southeastern Conference to win the tournament. The Gamecocks’ 23-4 record marked their third season in a row with 20 or more wins, a first in school history, and their 12-1 SEC mark set a record for conference victories.

In the rankings, South Carolina catapulted as high as No. 3 in the ITA poll, earning its highest-ever ranking on April 2, 2019. At the end of the season, Carolina achieved another program-best, finishing at No. 5. In singles, Ingrid Martins held steady throughout the second half of the season at No. 4, becoming the program’s highest-ranked individual in school history. Mia Horvit and Martins topped the doubles chart twice in season and ended the year in the No. 1 spot, another program milestone.

Epley coached Martins to three ITA awards, including ITA National Senior Player of the Year, ITA Carolina Region Senior Player of the Year and ITA Carolina Region Most Improved Senior. She also earned the title of SEC Player of the Year and was the SEC Tournament MVP, clinching the win for the Gamecocks. Also elected to the SEC All-Tournament team was Paige Cline. Being honored for their successful seasons, Cline, Horvit and Martins were all named first-team All-SEC, earned automatic bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, and garnered All-America status (Cline: singles; Horvit: doubles; Martins: singles and doubles). At the NCAA Doubles Championship, Horvit and Martins advanced to the semifinals, becoming just the second duo to do so in program history.

The success in 2019 was not much of a surprise given what the team accomplished in 2018. South Carolina returned to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the second-straight season and narrowly missed the quarterfinals after suffering a 4-3 loss to Georgia. Carolina finished the season ranked as the No. 12 team in the nation and also cracked the top five for the first time in school history when it climbed to the No. 5 spot on April 3, 2018. Finishing with a 21-7 mark on the season, South Carolina notched consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins for the first time since 1982 and 1983. The Gamecocks finished tied for second in the regular-season SEC standings after tallying an 11-2 record.

Under Epley, five singles players and six doubles teams were ranked at some point during the 2018 season. Horvit, Martins and Hadley Berg all broke the top-35 at Nos. 26, 28 and 31, respectively. In doubles, Berg and Cline began the season as the No. 7-ranked duo, the highest ranking for the Gamecock doubles team in over 15 years. Berg also earned the ITA Carolina Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award and the Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship, as well as being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 First Team. She notched a place on the All-SEC First Team, while Martins and Horvit were second-team honorees.

Epley earned ITA Carolina Region Coach of the Year after guiding the program to a successful season in 2016-17 that saw them reach the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the first time since 2009. The Gamecocks finished the campaign ranked 15th nationally by the ITA, their highest since 1999, and posted the program’s first 20-win season since 1995 with a 20-9 overall record. The successful regular season included a 7-0 sweep over in-state rival Clemson and an 8-5 record in the SEC. Horvit and Martins finished the season ranked nationally in singles at Nos. 46 and 48, respectively, while the doubles tandem of Berg and Cline finished at No. 27. Under Epley’s direction, both Horvit and Martins advanced to the round of 32 of the NCAA Singles Championship, marking just the second time in school history two Gamecocks advanced beyond the first round in the same year. Horvit went on to the round of 16 to become South Carolina’s second singles All-American and first since 1983. She was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the All-SEC Second Team.

In 2015-16, the Gamecocks began marking their move as a national contender when they jumped out to a 14-2 start under Epley, including a pair of top-10 wins that helped vault them to their first top-10 ranking since 1983 at No. 8. South Carolina was selected to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. Sporting two freshmen in the top half of the lineup, Epley’s group finished with 19 wins and won nine SEC matches, tying a school record at the time for league victories. Epley’s approach to doubles helped a pair of underclassmen shine as Berg and Cline went on to capture South Carolina’s first All-America honors since 1994, powering past a pair of top-10 tandems in the NCAA Doubles Championship on their way to the quarterfinals. Caroline Dailey also earned an NCAA Singles Championship invite, while Martins was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Under Epley’s tutelage, South Carolina led the SEC in Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week awards, collecting a combined six.

During his first three years with the Gamecocks, Epley’s squads showed steady improvement each season. His first team in 2012-13 just missed reaching the the second round of the NCAA Tournament en route to a 13-12 record and No. 34 final ranking. The team improved to 17-11 in his second season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament while posting a final ranking of 26th. In 2014-15, the Gamecocks once again reached the second round of NCAA play and nearly upset Virginia on the Cavaliers’ home courts.

Epley returned to the collegiate coaching ranks for the first time since 2008 when he took the South Carolina job after spending four years on the tour with Moulton-Levy and Lee-Waters. As a collegiate head coach from 2000 to 2008, he posted a 151-59 (.719) record in eight seasons between Fresno State and William & Mary while mentoring nine players to 18 All-America citations and five players to eight conference player of the year awards.

Before his stint on the WTA, Epley served as the head coach of the women’s program at William & Mary from 2003 to 2008. In his five seasons with the Tribe, Epley led the squad to a 96-40 (.706) record, including four Colonial Athletic Association Championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams finished among the ITA’s top 25 three times, including a No. 15 ranking in 2007. On four occasions, he was named the CAA Coach of the Year and in 2008 he garnered the Wilson/ITA East Region Coach of the Year award. In total, five William & Mary players competed in singles and doubles at the NCAA Championships and earned 11 All-America honors over his five seasons. On 21 occasions during Epley’s tenure, a Tribe player garnered All-CAA singles honors, while doubles teams received 11 all-league nods.

Epley’s 2006-07 William & Mary squad enjoyed a great deal of success despite having five freshmen on its roster. A recruiting class that entered the season ranked No. 2 by TennisRecruiting.net, the Tribe opened the season with an 11-0 record. In just its fourth match of the season, the young W&M team stunned the college tennis world with a 4-3 victory over No. 1 Georgia Tech, a team that went on to win the national championship. The squad climbed as high as No. 9 in the rankings and ended the season with a 22-3 (.880) record after appearing in the NCAA Sweet 16.

The 2006-07 season also provided W&M’s second individual national championship, as the duo of Moulton-Levy and Katarina Zoricic claimed the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Doubles Championship in November. They were also NCAA finalists during the outdoor season. Moulton-Levy graduated from the College as a six-time All-American, a four-time CAA Player of the Year and a two-time winner of the ITA National Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship.

In just his second season with William & Mary, Epley guided his team to one of the top rankings in school history when it ascended to No. 6 in March 2005. The Tribe began the season with a 10-1 mark, posting an impressive 4-3 victory at No. 5 Duke and a dominant 6-1 win over No. 16 Clemson along the way. The team maintained a top-20 ranking the remainder of the season after cracking the top 10 and finished No. 20 after advancing to the second round of NCAA play.

Prior to his stint in Williamsburg, Va., Epley served as the women’s head coach at Fresno State from 2000 to 2003. In his three seasons with the Bulldogs, he compiled a 55-19 (.743) record, coached four players to seven All-America honors and had the top-ranked doubles team in the country, the first of three No.1-ranked doubles teams he has mentored. He led his team to two WAC championships and was a two-time WAC Coach of the Year recipient. In all three seasons at Fresno, his teams posted top-25 finishes, including a No. 14 ranking in his first year.

Epley is a 1996 graduate of Southern Methodist University where he was an All-Southwestern Conference performer as a senior. He began his collegiate coaching career with a pair of one-year stays as an assistant coach at Alabama (1998-99) and Arizona (1999-2000) before taking his first head coaching position at Fresno State.