Men's Tennis
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
- Email:
- egils@ia.ua.edu
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Ezequiel Gils is entering his third year as the volunteer assistant coach with Alabama after spending the 2020 season in the same role with Rice University.
In 2022, Gils helped coach Filip Planinsek to ITA Rookie of the Year honors as the UA freshman finished the season as the second-highest ranked freshman in the country at No. 27 and the only freshman from the SEC to hold an end-of-year ranking. Planinsek also earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors, first honoree in program history, as he put together a team-leading 22 singles wins and team-leading 22 doubles wins, and Second Team All-SEC honors. He and Enzo Aguiard were both named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, marking the first time in program history two UA players were selected for the rookie team. Alabama finished the season with two doubles teams ranked as Patrick Kaukovalta and Planinsek were listed at No. 54 and German Samofalov and Planinsek were listed at No. 64.Â
In his first season, Gils helped the Crimson Tide capture 14 wins during the 2020-21 season and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The team had Patrick Kaukovalta and Riccardo Roberto advance to the NCAA Doubles Tournament, while Edson Ortiz qualified for the singles draw. In addition to the on-the-court accolades, the Tide had 10 student-athletes named to the ITA Scholar-Athlete Team. Â
A former two-time NAIA All-American at Tennessee Wesleyan, Gils worked at Rice after spending four years at Cedar Bluff Racquet Club in Knoxville, Tennessee where he recruited and trained junior players. He led an 18A Junior Team Tennis team that finished seventh at nationals, as well as created and implemented an advanced junior development camp that included video analysis and fitness.
Gils began his collegiate career at Tennessee Tech where he was a member of the 2012 OVC regular season champions before transferring to Tennessee Wesleyan in 2014. He earned back-to-back All-America honors, finished his senior season with a 17-0 mark in singles and an 18-2 record in doubles, and was named the AAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year in 2015. A two-time team captain, Gils was named to the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete Team as a senior and named Tennessee Wesleyan's Most Representative Male Student.
While in college, he coached at the Hugo Armando Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida where he worked with a number of players, including 2018 Australian Open junior champion Sebastian Korda. Gils began his collegiate coaching career at Tennessee Wesleyan in 2015. There, he assisted with match coaching, led practices, and recruited players, including an NAIA All-American athlete.
Gils and his wife Hannah make their home in Tuscaloosa.
