(release courtesy of Big South Conference / letter courtesy of Tomas Malik and Jody Davis)
The Big South Conference inducted five former student-athletes into its Hall of Fame Thursday night, May 29, during a ceremony as part of the League’s annual Spring Meetings and Hall of Fame & Awards Dinner at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C. The induction increases the Big South’s Hall of Fame membership to 35 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors.
Coastal Carolina’s Tomas Malik (men’s tennis) was part of the sixth Big South Hall of Fame class, that also included Liberty’s Peter Aluma (men’s basketball), Winthrop’s Jeff Greene (men’s cross country/track), Campbell’s Janet Wooten Collins (women’s golf) and UNC Asheville’s Jill Young Booth (women’s soccer). The 2008 Hall of Fame class was first announced on April 3. Malik was unable to attend the event and had his former coach, current CCU women's tennis coach Jody Davis accept award and give the speech on his behalf, which is below his bio. Malik is the 12th Coastal Carolina student-athlete, coach or administrator to be inducted, more than any other school in the league.
Tomas Malik, Coastal Carolina, Men’s Tennis (1994-97)
Malik, who completed his stellar career in 1997, holds Coastal Carolina career records for singles victories (90) and doubles victories (79). He earned three Big South Conference Player of the Year honors (1995, 1996, 1997) and was named the Conference’s Rookie of the Year in 1994.
Malik was a four-time All-Conference selection at both singles and doubles during his career, helped Coastal Carolina capture the 1994 Big South Conference championship, as well as two regular-season titles (1994, 1996) and a runner-up championship finish in 1996. He also excelled in the classroom, as he garnered Big South Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and was a CoSIDA Academic All-American First-Team honoree in 1996 and 1997.
Malik also received ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition in 1996 and 1997, was voted the Big South Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1997, and received the Big South’s Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence in 1997. Following his Coastal career, Malik served as the hitting partner for Jana Novatna when she ranked among the world’s best and has also coached the Slovakian Women’s National Team to the Federation Cup Championship. He is one of eight men's tennis players to earn All-Conference all four years, and is just one of two men's tennis players in Big South history to be named a four-time All-Conference performer in both singles and doubles.
Tomas Malik's Acceptance Speech
Dear Big South Conference members and Distinguished Guests,
I would like to start by saying thank you for selecting me to the Big South Conference Hall of Fame. I greatly appreciate this honor which I would not be able to achieve without the support of my family, friends and all the wonderful people I met at Coastal Carolina University.
Since I was a little child I dreamt about visiting the United States. After the end of our Socialist-Communist Regime in my country the dream become a reality. I took my chances and decided to study and play tennis in the United States. Thanks to a combination of determination, desire, great support from my family, friends and people at Coastal I was fortunate to receive a tennis scholarship and compete in the Big South Conference.
The time I spent at the University studying and playing tennis will always remain as one of the best parts of my life. It has given me an excellent base for my personal life and my professional career.
You have recognized my achievements today and I am truly humbled by this prestigious honor. A great part of this recognition also belongs to the many of you- all the wonderful people that I have met and that supported me: professors, coaches, teammates, classmates, competitors and many others.
I am thankful to all the people at Coastal Carolina University and the Big South Conference who believed in me and gave me this opportunity to enjoy one of the greatest things the United States has to offer- the combination of a great academic education and a challenging athletic experience.
I hope my absence tonight does not reflect in any way my love for Coastal and my dedication to my friends. Business conflicts out of my control warranted my presence. I would also like to congratulate the other members of this Hall of Fame Class and their families in attendance.
Thank you for everything and I hope to visit again in the near future.
With Best Regards,
Tomas Malik
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