The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2013
- Class:
- 2002
A five-time All-American and member of UT’s two NCAA champion women’s tennis teams, Kelly (Pace) Wilson remains the winningest player in school history. She helped UT to its two NCAA team titles in 1993 and 1995. Nearly 20 years after completing her collegiate career, Pace continues to rank first all-time at Texas in career singles wins (152), career singles winning percentage (.863) and single-season winning percentage (.913, 1994-95). Pace’s senior campaign proved to be among the most productive individual seasons in the history of college tennis. She helped UT to victory in the 1995 NCAA team title match against Florida and also played in the singles and doubles finals (with partner Cristina Moros) at the NCAA Championships. Pace ranked No. 1 nationally in singles and doubles and was selected as the NCAA’s National Senior Player of the Year. She competed in the NCAA Championships’ singles draw all four years as a Longhorn and added a semifinals appearance in 1993, and she also played in the NCAA Championships’ doubles draw three times. Pace ranks second all-time at Texas with five All-America honors. She earned singles All-America honors from 1993-95 and doubles All-America honors in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 Southwest Conference Player of the Year was selected as UT’s Team MVP in 1992, 1994 and 1995. She earned All-SWC honors in singles and doubles all four years as a Longhorn. Pace played professionally from 1995-98 and won two tournaments, and she competed in one of professional tennis’ four majors – the U.S. Open – in 1996. Pace was ranked as high as No. 134 in doubles and No. 196 in singles during her professional career, and she has won 12 USTA National Senior Championships. Pace earned a bachelor’s of science (B.S.) in kinesiology from UT in 2002. She is currently a director of tennis and associate tennis professional at Gold River Racquet Club in Sacramento, Calif.
