Bio

Francisco Gallardo, a native of Santiago, Chile, is starting his seventh year as coach of the men's and women's tennis program at Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 2023-24 season, after a successful career as a player at TWU and serving one year as an assistant coach.

The 2023 season was one of the most successful seasons in program history. The team tied the program record for wins (15), had the highest preseason NAIA ranking in program history (No. 8),  went undefeated in Appalachian Athletic Conference play for the first time ever in program history with a 10-0 record, which is also the most conference wins in program history, won the AAC Regular Season Champions (second-ever regular season title), and had the AAC Player of the Year (Olivia Alcala). Gallardo was named AAC Coach of the Year. In the NAIA National Tournament, the team advanced to the NAIA Tournament Quarterfinals and the NAIA Tournament Semifinals, both firsts in program history. Also for the first time in program history, the team won three matches in the NAIA Tournament and defeated the highest seed in the NAIA Tournament in program history (No. 4) in the process. Gallardo had a player named to the NAIA All-American First Team for the first time in program history (Alcala).

Following great success in 2018, Gallardo led the men´s team to another historic season in 2019. After the best start of the season in the history of the men´s program, the men's team broke into the top ten for the first time in history. The team was ranked amongst the top ten for four polls in a row and finished the year in the 11th position. The team qualified to the NAIA National Tournament for the 3rd year in a row, reached the Round of 16th for the second year in a row, and picked up its second win in the NAIA National Tournament.

Both the men´s and women´s teams finished top four in the conference and made it to the semifinals in the AAC Conference Tournament. The teams posted a record of 12-7 on the men´s side and 8-8 on the women´s side.

In addition to the success on the court for the Bulldogs, Coach Gallardo has built teams with a strong awareness of the needs of the community. Both teams have developed a special relationship with the community through service. Both programs have accumulated more than 40 hours of community service by volunteering in different activities and organizations. Due to these efforts, the men's team was awarded the 2019 ITA Men's Community Service & Outreach Award at the NAIA National Tournament banquet.

Just like in 2018, Gallardo´s men’s and women’s teams earned NAIA Scholar-Team Honors for the 2019 season. This year, the women's tennis team had a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.69, taking the first place for 4th year in a row. The men’s team had a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, placing 6^th.

Under Gallardo’s guidance in 2018, the men’s team achieved a co-regular season championship and were runners-up in the AAC Tournament. The team had a record-breaking season as it reached its highest historical ranking as 15^th in the nation, and qualified to the National Tournament for the second year in a row, and only the third time in the history of the school.

At the NAIA National Tournament, the team entered as the #16 seed and faced the #17 seed, the San Diego Christian College Hawks. This thrilling 5-4 match gave the Bulldogs their first-ever win in the National Tournament in the program’s history. The team ended their historic season losing to the # 1 seed, Georgia Gwinnett College, in the round of 16.

Over the years, Gallardo has developed one NAIA All-American Second Team member, three All-Conference Team member, two All-AAC Freshman Team member and ten All-Academic Team members on the men’s side. On the women’s side, he has developed three Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, two All-AAC Freshman Team member and nine All-Academic AAC Team members.

His men’s and women’s team earned NAIA Scholar-Team Honors. The women's tennis team had a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.52, leading the way in first place. The men’s team had a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.36, placing 4^th.

As a player, Gallardo played for the Bulldogs all four years of his college career, achieving one of the best records in the history of the school. His career records are: Singles- 61-23; Doubles- 59-27; Overall- 119-49. Gallardo was selected captain of the team his junior and senior year, leading the Bulldogs to three AAC Conference finals and one regular-season championship in 2015. He also helped the team to be ranked in the top 25 in the country in the 2016 season.

In 2015, Gallardo participated in the ITA Regionals, reaching the 4th round in singles by defeating the #9 seed in the second round and then losing to #5 seed in the 4th round. During his last year, he was awarded the Stan Harrison Award, for the athlete out of all of the university’s athletes that season who has contributed most to their team. Gallardo was awarded the NAIA Character of Champion in 2015 and 2016, along with being TWU Character of Champion in 2015. During his sophomore year, he was a part of the All-Conference Team in the AAC Conference and was named Player of the Week, March 2013 in the AAC Conference.

As a student, he made the Tennessee Wesleyan College Dean's List in 2013 and 2014 and became part of the honor's list of TWU in 2016. He graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in General Management.

Collegiate Coaching Career Record