Lot Christensen

Lot Christensen

Lot Christensen had a 28-year career at Mesa Community College as a Baseball, Basketball, and Tennis coach and Physical Education instructor. However, he is best known as the "Father of MCC Tennis."

He was put in charge of our first men’s tennis team in 1967, which surprisingly finished that first year with only one defeat in dual matches. When he stepped down 21 years later, his teams had won 409 dual meets and lost only 50. They were in the Top 10 on 14 occasions, and won it all in 1972, the year Lot was named NJCAA Coach of the Year. He was Arizona Coach of the Year 16 times and the T'birds were ACCAC champions 18 times.

It's interesting that when you look at Lot's athletic career, Tennis is not prominently mentioned. He played football and basketball at Safford High School. He made some all-service basketball teams while serving in the Navy. Football, Basketball, and Track were his sports at Eastern Arizona and Ricks College as was the case when he started his coaching career at the high school level.

Recruiting was a key to his coaching success, and he could be a very convincing salesman. He made Mesa "the place to play junior college tennis." He sold the program, and like Jim Brock, he didn't like to lose. The City of Mesa and Ricks College have inducted him into their Halls of Fame.