Tennis standout now doing big things while coaching at the NCAA DI level

A native of Brockenhurst, England, Lloyd Bruce-Burgess was a two-time JUCO All-American at Cowley College, where he was ranked No. 3 and No. 2 by the NJCCA in singles and doubles, respectively, on a team ranked sixth nationally. The former Tiger standout has gone on to become one of the top young coaches in all of the NCAA Division I and will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 1.

Before coming to Cowley College, Bruce-Burgess was the top-ranked junior tennis player in his hometown. He was also ranked in the top 40 of the national tennis rankings.

Because of his professional background, Bruce-Burgess was ineligible to compete in the NCAA and was unaware that he could attend college in the USA until a friend informed him about his eligibility at a junior college.

"I spoke with many top junior colleges, but ultimately, it was Cowley head coach Josh Cobble who stood out," Bruce-Burgess said. "He invested a lot of time in recruiting me and made me believe in his vision for the program."

Bruce-Burgess was the first international athlete Cobble had signed.

"I knew he was going to be a good player but I had no idea how good until he was here," Cobble said. "To this day, he is one of the best players I have had the opportunity to coach. He was hard working on the tennis court and set a high standard for effort and performance on the court. He was highly competitive, and no matter the score, the opponent, or the conditions, he was going to bring his best effort to win every time, which, to me, is the benchmark of what makes someone successful. Lloyd was also instrumental in growing the level of the team as he would recommend players, provide feedback on recruits, as well as be helpful to the guys on the team for motivation and sharing his tennis experience with them."

As a freshman, he teamed with Peter Billingham to win the Region VI title at No. 1 doubles and earned NJCAA All-American honors.

"The first couple of weeks at Cowley were amazing as I discovered the community and the people I would share the next few years with," Bruce-Burgess said. "The first semester was fantastic for tennis too. Despite it being fall, winning the regional doubles with Peter Billingham and playing him in the singles final at home was a highlight."

One of Bruce-Burgess' fondest memories is playing the national semifinal in his sophomore year alongside teammate Roger White.

"We were both deep into our matches against Laredo, with the whole team cheering us on and Josh (Cobble) moving between courts," Bruce-Burgess said. "Although I didn't win my match, Roger did. That moment, seeing how much it meant to everyone on the sideline, is something I will cherish forever. It inspires me to create similar moments now as a college coach."

Bruce-Burgess went on to have a stellar sophomore season as he was tabbed the ITA Region VI Player of the Year in 2010 thanks to records of 21-2 in singles and 14-8 in doubles.

After placing ninth as a team during the 2009 season, Bruce-Burgess helped the Tiger tennis team finish sixth nationally in 2010.

"The team chemistry was amazing, and Josh was the catalyst for that," Bruce-Burgess said. "He deserves the credit. We had great people, but Josh helped shape them. Our chemistry truly stood out and led to a successful couple of years."

After Cowley, Bruce-Burgess earned his communication studies degree in 2012 from Fresno Pacific, where he was a part of the 2011 NAIA national championship squad and 2012 NAIA national runner-up team. He was a regional semifinalist at the school.

After his playing days, Bruce-Burgess served as the Director of Tennis at Genesis Health Clubs for six years. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Wichita State University and the University of South Florida before being hired as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, where the tennis team achieved a program-best ranking of No. 20 nationally.

He spent the 2021-2023 seasons as the women's tennis assistant coach at the University of Central Florida before being named the head men's tennis coach at the University of Central Florida on August 8, 2024.

In his first year as head coach at UCF, the team recorded the best start in school history twice, with 7-0 and 14-1 records. The Knights also reached the second round of the NCAA tournament for only the second time in history and defeated the University of Florida for the first time, breaking a 0-23 record against the Gators.

Along with Bruce-Burgess, Peter Billingham is the associate head coach of the USC women's tennis team, and former Tiger teammate Boomer Saia is the head coach of the Clemson women's tennis team.

"We still see each other and communicate regularly, being in the same field and all in power conferences," Bruce-Burgess said. "It says a lot for what Cowley inspires, produces, and the impact Josh (Cobble) had on us all."

Bruce-Burgess is engaged, and he and his fiancé are expecting their first child just prior to the Hall of Fame banquet.

"While at Cowley, I learned about the Hall of Fame and thought how amazing it would be to be inducted one day," Bruce-Burgess said. "I am still very involved with Cowley, regularly communicating with former and current coaches, and I stay updated on the team's progress."

Cobble is glad to see his former player be selected for induction into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame. 

"This honor is well deserved through his accomplishments as a student-athlete, and I believe the true standard of a Hall of Fame candidate is to carry their success from the court or field into life. I think Lloyd is a testament to that as well as a coach now where he is making a positive impact on the lives of his players on and off of the tennis court."

Bruce-Burgess is eager to return to Arkansas City, a place that he considers a home away from home.

"Cowley is a special place for me," Bruce-Burgess said. "It gave me the opportunity to continue my tennis career when I thought it was over at 20 years old in England. I met some of my closest friends there. It also allowed me to pursue an education and discover my dream job. Without Cowley, my life would be very different, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I received. I will always be a Tiger!"