Game, Set, Match

It’s hard not to enjoy your job when your workplace is one of the finest facilities of its kind. Just ask Baylor tennis coach Matt Knoll. Knoll said he couldn’t ask for a better working environment than that of the Hurd Tennis Building within the Baylor Tennis Center. The tennis center, a component of the Jim and Julie Turner Riverfront Athletic Park on University Parks Drive, also includes twelve outdoor tennis courts and a clubhouse.

The center’s main building was re-named for Mark and Paula Hurd in late October thanks to what Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw deemed a “generous gift” from the Hurds to provide for renovations.

 “We’re lucky that Mark Hurd has allowed for us to have the nicest tennis facility in the country,” Knoll said. “It really shows recruits Baylor’s commitment to tennis.”

The Hurds’ gift funded upgrades to the coaching offices, the building’s lobby, the locker room, and even the trophy cases.

Mark Hurd attended Baylor on a tennis scholarship and graduated in 1979 with a degree in business administration. Today, he is the chief executive officer at Hewlett-Packard, which he joined in 2005 after twenty-five years with NCR Corp. He was CEO of NCR when he departed.

“This place is jaw-dropping,” Knoll said. “Not only does it enhance the experience for recruits, but it’s pretty nice for the players and coaches that are already here.”