FORT MYERS, Fla. – As 19 Atlantic Sun Conference men's and women's tennis teams convene in Fort Myers this week for the 2026 ASUN Tennis Championships, the league's premier tennis event will be held on an improved facility that was made possible by the collaboration between Florida Gulf Coast University and the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA).

Thanks to the collaboration among FGCU Athletics, the USTA, and Florida Gulf Coast University, the USTA awarded a grant to FGCU to resurface all 12 courts at the FGCU Tennis Complex in advance of this season and the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference Championships. FGCU hosts the ASUN Championships beginning Tuesday and lasting through the week, with the championship matches scheduled for Sunday at 9 a.m. (men's championship) and 5 p.m. (women's championship).

"I felt like the USTA was a perfect partner for us in this endeavor," FGCU head men's tennis coach Josh Molino said. "They have a strong presence in Florida and their national campus is only three hours away. It was a really cool opportunity to work together."

In addition to the court resurfacing, the project also provided new light pole pads at the facility. All of which come as the ASUN will hold its 2026 men's and women's tennis championships in Fort Myers.
Molino also worked with the Orange Bowl and struck a deal where 12 professional umpire chairs will be utilized and stored at FGCU until needed for the Orange Bowl's annual tennis events. Those new umpire chairs have been utilized throughout the 2025-26 season and will be in use this week.

As part of the grant process, the USTA encourages recipients to publicize and grow the game. As such, Molino has instituted an after-school tennis program, hosts adult beginner classes and is planning several camps and clinics throughout the summer. FGCU is one of few schools in the state that offers that much opportunity to the community to be engaged with the sport.

The project will also be to the benefit of FGCU's student body and the surrounding community, as well as the courts, which, when not in use by FGCU's men's or women's teams, are available for public use.

"This project would not have been possible without the hard work and great collaboration between (FGCU Director of Athletics) Colin Hargis, (Associate Athletics Director) Jeremy Blake-Johnson, President Dr. Aysegul Timur, Scott Treibly with the USTA and Laura Bowen with USTA Florida," said Molino. "I am so grateful for all of their hard work and support for this project."

Molino and his Eagles open ASUN Tournament play on Wednesday, Apr. 15 at 9 a.m. as No. 5 seed FGCU faces No. 4 seed Eastern Kentucky in the quarterfinals. Courtney Vernon and the FGCU women's team also open play in the quarterfinals, as the third-seeded Eagles face No. 6 seed Stetson on Thursday, Apr. 16 at Noon.

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