By RAMA PEROO/Cowley College
Having led the Cowley College men’s tennis team to its first national title in 32 years, Manuel Raga was a hot commodity in the tennis circuit. Despite his love for his alma mater (Cowley College), Raga knew the timing was right to make a move. The national champion coach recently accepted an offer to become an assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma men’s tennis team.
“It was a very hard decision to make to leave Cowley and take the assistant coaching position at OU, considering how much I loved working at Cowley and the relationships I have built in the community and with my players,” Raga said. “However, I am truly excited to join one of the best tennis programs in the nation at OU.”
Raga coached the Tiger tennis team to seven individual national titles and the women’s team to two singles titles. He was also tabbed as the 2023 Wilson ITA Men’s Coach of the Year, NJCAA Coach of the Tournament, and compiled an overall 59-16 record with the men’s program.
Raga coached several players to NJCAA and ITA All-America honors and helped them claim numerous individual national titles throughout his five seasons with the Tigers. He also led the women’s team to its highest-ever finish at the national tournament as the squad finished as the national runner-up.
“Coach Manny is a premier collegiate tennis coach,” Cowley College athletic director Jeff Fluty said. “He has exhibited competitive excellence in team leadership, commitment, and the ultimate goal of bringing a national championship back home to Cowley. Undoubtedly, we will miss him here, but at the same time are thrilled at the opportunity for him and his family at the University of Oklahoma.”
Prior to his coaching days, Raga was an All-American tennis player at Cowley College during the 2012 season. At Cowley, he finished as the national runner-up at No. 4 singles and helped the Tiger tennis team win the conference and region title and finish in sixth place at the NJCAA Division I Men’s National Tennis Championship in Plano, Texas.
After Cowley, he went on to have three incredibly successful tennis seasons at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, as he was the KCAC Player of the Year and an All-American all three years at the school. Raga finished his senior season with a 14-0 record at No. 1 singles, helped Bethany capture three KCAC regular season titles, and finish as high as fifth in the nation.
However, coming from Venezuela to Arkansas City, KS, and having tremendous success as a tennis player and coach, Raga said Cowley will always have a special place in his heart.
“The success we have had in the last five years has greatly helped my career,” Raga said. “As my coaching career at Cowley comes to an end, I want to thank Shane Larson, Jason O’Toole, and Rama Peroo for all the support given to myself and the tennis program.”
