Longtime Georgia men's tennis coach Manuel Diaz retiring after this season

Another Georgia coaching legend has decided to call it a career.

Men’s tennis coach Manuel Diaz is retiring after this season, the school announced Thursday afternoon.

Diaz will wrap up 36 years as coach that has included four NCAA titles and two indoor championships and the most career wins—now at 771-of any SEC coach.

He will turn 71 next month.

"It's time!" Diaz, who was at a Georgia practice, said via text message with a smiling sunglass emoji.

His team won the outright SEC regular season title last year for the first time since 2016 and Bulldog Ethan Quinn won the NCAA singles title last season.

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The Bulldogs this season are ranked No. 15 nationally.

“It’s a difficult decision to step away from something that has been such a huge part of my life and that I’ve loved for so long,” Diaz said in a Georgia statement. “Georgia tennis has given me so much and I want to thank all our fans from all over the world.”

The San Juan, Puerto Rico native was a two-time All-American as a Bulldog from 1972-75 and was an assistant under legendary coach Dan Magill from 1982-88.

He’s been a part of SEC championships for each of the last five decades and has been head coach since the 1988-89 season.

“We have competed at the highest levels and won championships, but my favorite part of coaching has always been mentoring our players and watching them grow into phenomenal fathers and professionals," he said.

His teams reached the NCAA finals 11 times and reached the NCAA tournament in all 35 of his seasons with 40 different All-Americans including recently retired American tennis star John Isner.

“Manny Diaz has meant so much for the University of Georgia and our athletic department,” athletic director Josh Brooks said. “Not only is he one of the greatest coaches in tennis history, he is also one of the most accomplished coaches of any sport at any school in the country. More than that, the impact he has on the young ment who have come through the program will be felt for generations to come.”

Diaz follows two other longtime, national championship winning coaches to retire in recent years: women’s tennis coach Jeff Wallace and swimming coach Jack Bauerle.

Georgia did not name a successor to Diaz, but associate head coach Jamie Hunt, a member of UGA national title teams in 2007 and 2008, has taken on more responsibilities in recent years.