GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman University Athletics has announced renovations to Mickel Tennis Center, the home to the Paladin men's and women's tennis programs, are currently underway and scheduled to be completed in time for the 2025 spring season.

The project is headlined by a gift from former women's tennis head coach, Debbie Southern and the Harold T. Southern ('37) Family Foundation, and will feature facility improvements and improved live streaming for all Furman home matches.

"In 1996, we held the dedication of the new Mickel Tennis Center, and the building was a godsend for both the men's and women's tennis programs," stated Debbie Southern. "Over the past three decades, the wear and tear of a home being used and loved was showing. Facilities are important in recruiting student-athletes to Furman. Hopefully the renovations and upgrades to the Mickel Tennis Center will help recruit future Paladins and give the present players a fresh space to enjoy and compete. Our family is thrilled to be involved with this project! Go Dins!"

In addition to the locker room renovation and streaming capabilities, recent facility improvements include outdoor windscreens, new surface and lights for the indoor courts, and roof repair to Mickel Tennis Center. New court harbors have been installed on the outdoor tennis courts and co-branded through the athletic department's corporate partnership with Bon Secours.

"We are beyond grateful for this generous and thoughtful gift from legendary coach and hall of famer, Debbie Southern," remarked Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jason Donnelly. "This gift is particularly meaningful for the impact it will make on both the women's and men's programs and reflects Debbie's legacy of excellence and commitment to Furman Tennis. We look forward to celebrating this gift and honoring Debbie as we do each year at the prestigious Debbie Southern Fall Classic."

All 16 indoor and outdoor courts have been fitted with new Track Tennis cameras and will allow Paladin fans to watch all home matches via www.furmanpaladins.com. Furman is one of only two schools in the Southern Conference to employ Track Tennis, along with Samford.  The development and fundraising efforts were led by Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs & Revenue Generation Drew Ingraham, head women's tennis coach Michelle Dasso & head men's tennis coach J.J. Whitlinger. 

"Debbie's tremendous coaching career continues to have transformative impact on Furman student-athletes continues to this day," remarked Dasso. "These renovations will positively impact our program, players, and staff in the present and for many decades to come. Debbie's generosity and love for Furman shines bright, and we'd humbly like to express our sincere gratitude to her as well as the support from the Furman administration on these impressive projects."

"First and foremost, we'd like to thank Debbie Southern for her generous gift to the men's and women's tennis programs," said Whitlinger. "Furman has always been known for having a beautiful campus and top-notch facilities. With Debbie's help we have been able to transform our team room and locker room into something truly special. Our new locker rooms are second to none!"

Southern led the Furman women's tennis program to unprecedented heights during her 31-year tenure. She guided the Paladins to 461 overall wins and a 213-22 Southern Conference record (.906 winning percentage) prior to her retirement in 2015, including a streak of 100 consecutive league wins from 1998-2010, a streak that has never been matched in any sport. Southern coached Furman to 19 SoCon regular season titles, 16 league tournament titles, and nine NCAA berths. She was a 14-time SoCon Coach of the Year and saw her players earn 14 SoCon Player of the Year awards.

In addition to 2009 ITA All-American Laura Gioia, Southern coached nine SoCon Freshman of the Year award winners, five SoCon Sportsmanship Award winners, 12 SoCon Championship Outstanding Players, and more than 150 All-SoCon selections. She also mentored 33 individual and 16 doubles champions from 1985-97 before the SoCon Championship changed from an individual to a team scoring format. In 2000, she became the first person to earn the South Carolina Tennis Association Coach of the Year award on two separate occasions (1991, 2000). 

Southern, the Furman J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2007, was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004, the ITA Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, along with her late father and her mother, in 2012, the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, and the SoCon Hall of Fame in 2018.