LAS VEGAS – Sean Sloane was recognized this past weekend with the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). The 2019 USPTA World Conference was held in Las Vegas where Sloane, the former Haverford College head men's tennis and men's and women's squash coach, was honored during the association's awards luncheon.
The George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award is named for the late George Bacso, who was a USPTA Master Professional and was instrumental in developing the current USPTA certification process.
Sloane, who retired from Haverford following the 2017-18 academic year, coached the men's tennis team at Haverford for 21 seasons. Sloane previously served as head coach of both the men's and women's squash programs at Haverford from the fall of 1997 until the end of the 2009 season.
Sloane compiled a 214-144 career record as men's tennis coach at Haverford. His teams made the Centennial Conference Tournament during 12 of his final 13 seasons since the conference's team tournament inception. The Fords made it to at least the conference semifinals during each of those playoff appearances, including four trips to the Centennial Conference Championship match.
Named the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Middle States Coach of the Year following both the 2009 and 2016 seasons, the Fords demonstrated significant skill under Sloane's guidance as evidenced by a conference doubles title in 2004, an ITA Fall Regional doubles title in 2007, and a singles championship semifinalist at the 2010 ITA Fall Regional.
Numerous student-athletes have earned ITA national Scholar-Athlete honors under Sloane's direction as the Fords annually ranked among the top teams in all of Division III in both number of Scholar-Athletes and team GPA. One of Sloane's highest achievers, Alex Buxbaum '09 (featured in the tribute video), was awarded a coveted NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship following his graduation.
Excelling in all racquet sports, Sloane is also the all-time winningest coach in men's squash at Haverford and held that distinction on the women's side up until recently. He won 100 matches as the leader of the men's squash program, including a pair of Conroy Cup Championships. Sloane recorded an additional 51 victories leading the women's squash team to give him a combined 365 wins at Haverford.
Since 1981, the College Squash Association has given an award to recognize the men's team that best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the season. The award was renamed the Sloane Award in his honor. His squad at Williams won the first team sportsmanship award in 1981.
Sloane came to Haverford after spending 16 years as the head coach of Williams College for both men's and women's tennis and men's squash. Adding all of those win totals together, Sloane led his teams to a combined 697 wins during his time as a college head coach. After stepping down from Williams, Sloane took time out to earn his doctorate in sports administration from the University of Massachusetts. He went on to become a top administrator with the U.S. Tennis Association and continues to work as a tennis referee for many important professional tennis tournaments.