Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center

Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center

In keeping with the University of North Carolina's tradition of offering extraordinary facilities for its student-athletes, the University dedicated a superb indoor/outdoor tennis facility adjacent to the Friday Center on North Carolina Highway 54 in Chapel Hill in September 1992.

The Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, which took four years to come to fruition, was the crowning jewel in a decade-long campaign to improve the athletic facilities at the University. It has remained a vibrant facility with multiple upgrades.

The Tennis Center, located on Don Skakle Drive, was dedicated September 12, 1992, with more than 1,000 UNC tennis fans in attendance. Chancellor Paul Hardin and Director of Athletics John Swofford officially dedicated and named the facility that has served as the home of the Tar Heels' men's and women's tennis programs for over two decades.

The facility honors Caesar Cone, II, a 1928 alumnus of the University, who played tennis at Carolina and was a tremendous benefactor of the school throughout his life. Cone went on to establish Cone Mills in Greensboro, N.C., one of the most successful textile manufacturing entities in the history of the South. The Center also bears the name of John Kenfield, the legendary Tar Heel tennis coach, who compiled a sterling record of 434-30-2 in dual match play from 1928-55. Kenfield's teams won 15 Southern Conference team championships and two Atlantic Coast Conference team championships during his tenure. Kenfield coached the likes of All-Americas Bitsy Grant, Wilmer Hines and Vic Seixas at UNC and his 1948 team finished third in the nation, UNC's highest national finish in history. Kenfield was Carolina's first-ever full-time tennis coach, and he took over the reins of the UNC team in time to coach Caesar Cone, II, in his senior season in 1928.

Fundraising on the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center was completed in early 1991 and construction on the facility began in the spring of that year.
The $2 million complex includes:

• Six indoor and 12 outdoor, lighted, hard surface tennis courts (all newly resurfaced)
• Indoor spectator viewing on the upper level of the indoor center
• Outdoor seating for 2,000 in the Rauch Family Tennis Stadium (opened in mid-2000s)
• Men's and women's varsity dressing facilities
• Public and visitor dressing facilities
• Fully-equipped weight-training rooms for both varsity teams
• An alley for coaches and non-competing players behind each set of indoor courts
• Offices and public restrooms on the upper level of the center core
• Indoor area of approximately 47,500 square feet
• Air conditioning for the indoor area
• Halide lighting on all courts
• Indirect lighting on the indoor courts

UNC added a new outdoor scoreboard to the facility prior to the 2004 campaign. It is located at the site of courts No. 1, 2 and 3. A similar scoreboard for the indoor facility was added in 2010.

DIRECTIONS

FROM VIRGINIA AND POINTS NORTH Take I-85 South to Durham, N.C. Exit left at US-15/501 in Durham and follow 15/501 for approximately six miles. At junction with I-40, turn left at light onto I-40 East. Take I-40 East until exit for NC-54 West (exit #273 B). Continue on NC-54 West approximately 1 mile. Turn left at stoplight into the Friday Center. Follow signs to Tennis Center.

FROM POINTS WEST Take I-85 North towards Durham, N.C. When I-85 and I-40 split, take I-40 East. Continue on I-40 East until exit for NC-54 West (exit #273 A). Continue on NC-54 West approximately 1 mile. Turn left at stoplight into the Friday Center. Follow signs to Tennis Center.

FROM POINTS EAST Take I-40 West to Chapel Hill. Exit at NC-54 West (exit #273 A) and follow for approximately 1 mile. Turn left at stoplight into the Friday Center. Follow signs to Tennis Center.

FROM POINTS SOUTH Take US-15/50 North to Chapel Hill. Exit right onto 15/501 Bypass in Chapel Hill. Continue on 15/501 Bypass through two stoplights. After second light, take next exit, which will be NC-54 East. Continue on NC-54 East approximately 1.5 miles. Turn right at stoplight into Friday Center. Follow signs to Tennis Center.

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DIRECTIONS

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