The conversation centered around Sheila McInerney, a budding coaching star in her mid-20s coming off a brief playing career on the professional tour.
At the time, McInerney, a former standout athlete at Southern California, had just completed her first year as an assistant coach under David Borelli at her alma mater. Her knowledge and passion for tennis drew the attention of those within the USC athletics department.
Mona Plummer, then an associate athletic director at Arizona State, was seeking a new women’s tennis head coach following the retirement of Dr. Anne Pittman after the 1984 season after 30 years on the job. Plummer’s friend, Barbara Hedges, an associate athletic director at USC, was keen on McInerney’s potential.
“When the [ASU] job opened up,” McInerney remembers, “Barbara might’ve called Mona and said, ‘Look, she’s young but, I think you oughta look at Sheila.'”
The resume spoke for itself, despite a coaching career in its infancy.
As a student-athlete at USC, McInerney was a four-time All-American who guided the Trojans to three national championship titles and was the national doubles runner-up three times. The Rome, New York, native was also a four-time recipient of the Trojan Spirit Award, as selected by her teammates. Following her decorated collegiate career, McInerney advanced to the professional tour, where peaked within the top-75 of the world rankings and played in three Grand Slam tournaments.
Shortly after Hedges’ referral, McInerney found herself making the trek from Los Angeles to Tempe. A prior sit-down with Plummer sealed the deal. On August 16, 1984, McInerney was formally named the head coach of the Sun Devils – a position she’d hold for the next 40 years.
“It was nerve-wracking at first,” McInerney admits. “At Arizona State, I didn’t have an assistant [in 1984]. I didn’t know a soul. Forty years later, I was still there, so it was pretty amazing.”
Her nerves quickly subsided.
“I loved every minute of it. What other profession can you get up in the morning, jump out of bed and put your sneakers and shorts and t-shirt on and go out and play tennis and be around young kids? It’s the old saying, it never felt like a job.”
More than four decades later, college tennis remains central to McInerney’s life. Every major milestone, every life-altering moment, ties back to college tennis.
“I just think the fact of loving the college experience I had is what made me really want to coach. It’s life-changing if you have a good experience, and I had a great one. My teammates are still my lifelong friends.”
Sheila McInerney At A Glance
Head Coach of Arizona State Women’s Tennis For 40 Seasons
Led the Sun Devils to 589 career wins and 37 NCAA Tournament appearances
Finished each season in the Top-40 National Rankings
Guided ASU to eight NCAA Quarterfinals and 18 Sweet Sixteens
Sixth coach in ASU history to reach 500-plus career wins
2016 ITA Meritorious Service Award Winner Served on ITA’s Board of Directors, Women’s Hall of Fame Committee and Chair of Women’s Operating Committee
Four-time All-American as a student-athlete at USC, leading Trojans to three National Championships
To celebrate McInerney and the Class of 2026, click here to register for the ITA Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Induction Ceremony & Dinner.