Alexander Free returned to the Arizona Men’s Tennis program as Associate Head Coach on July 10, 2023, after previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach from 2018–2020. In his first three seasons back in Tucson, Free has helped elevate the Wildcats to historic heights, contributing to the program’s first ever Elite Eight appearance in 2026, back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in his first two seasons, and helping establish Arizona as a national powerhouse.
The 2025-26 season marked arguably the finest season in school history, as Arizona compiled a 24-5 overall record while posting a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play to secure the 2026 Big 12 Regular Season Championship.
Arizona closed the 2026 regular season with 15 consecutive victories, including four wins over nationally ranked opponents. The Wildcats defeated three straight ranked teams in late March, highlighted by back-to-back victories over No. 8 Baylor and No. 2 TCU. Arizona earned the No. 8 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest NCAA Tournament seed in school history, and hosted the opening two rounds in Tucson. After sweeping Northern Arizona and defeating Clemson, 4-2, the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16. Arizona then hosted NCAA Tournament play through the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history and defeated No. 9 Oklahoma, 4-3, to earn the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance before falling to No. 1 Wake Forest.
The Wildcats concluded the 2026 season ranked No. 7 in the nation, the highest final team ranking in program history. Arizona had four players earn All-Big 12 Team recognition, including Jay Friend who was named the Co-Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the season, Free was named the ITA Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year, marking the second time that he has won the award in the past three seasons.
In 2024–25, the Wildcats posted a 26–5 overall record, captured the program’s first-ever Big 12 Tournament Championship, and finished undefeated in the Southwest region. Arizona once again advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, marking the third straight year reaching that round. Under Free’s leadership, Colton Smith and Jay Friend both earned ITA Singles All-America honors and finished the season ranked in the Top 10 nationally—Smith at No. 3 and Friend at No. 9. Freshman Zoran Ludoski achieved a No. 55 national ranking in singles, and Arizona secured the No. 5 recruiting class in the nation according to TennisRecruiting.net. Friend was also named an ITA Academic All-American.
The previous season (2023–24), Free helped guide the Wildcats to a 26–4 record and a dominant 7–1 mark in Pac-12 play. Arizona won its third consecutive Pac-12 Regular Season Championship and captured the program’s first-ever Pac-12 Tournament title. For his efforts, Free was named ITA Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year. He coached Smith and Friend to become the first doubles team in program history to be named Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year, winning 26 matches together and defeating five ranked opponents.
Before returning to Arizona, Free served as the head coach at Boise State in 2022–23, leading the Broncos to a 21–8 overall record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015. The team captured the Mountain West Championship and produced multiple All-MW honorees, including Simon Arca Costas, who went undefeated in dual matches (23–0). Academically, the team had seven Broncos named to the Academic All-MW Team, with two earning MW Scholar-Athlete honors.
Prior to Boise State, Free was the head coach at Idaho State (2020–22), where he led the Bengals to their first Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship appearance since 2004 and posted the program’s most wins since 2013. His doubles team of Patrik Trhac and Aleksandar Petrovic was ranked as high as No. 33 nationally. Idaho State earned ITA All-Academic Team honors and produced multiple All-Big Sky performers under his leadership.
During his first stint at Arizona (2018–2020), Free helped the program reach new heights, including a season-high national ranking of No. 21 in 2019 and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in a decade. That season also featured Arizona’s first ITA Southwest Rookie of the Year in Jonas Ziverts and the program’s first NCAA Singles Championship participant since 2006.
Free began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Appalachian State, helping the Mountaineers reach the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals. As a player, Free competed at Tyler Junior College—where his team advanced to the NJCAA National Championship—and later at UT Tyler, where he was a two-time ASC champion and first-team All-ASC selection. He concluded his collegiate career at Appalachian State as a graduate transfer.
Free holds a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State (2019) and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from UT Tyler in 2016.
