STANFORD, Calif. -- Former student-athlete Paul Violich, ’57, MBA ’62, has endowed the head coaching position for women’s tennis, furthering his commitment to women’s sports. Frankie Brennan will be the inaugural holder of the Paul A. Violich Director of Women’s Tennis.
This is the fourth head coaching position Violich has endowed for women’s sports at Stanford, following previous gifts for women’s swimming, women’s lacrosse, and softball.
“Paul’s commitment to Stanford women’s sports is inspiring,” said John Donahoe, the Jaquish & Kenninger Director and Chair of Athletics. “His decision to endow a fourth head coaching position demonstrates his belief in the power of female athletes and the coaches who shape them. We are thrilled to see his impact extend to women’s tennis, the winningest program in department history with a storied legacy and a bright future.”
Violich earned a bachelor’s in history from Stanford in 1957 and represented the Cardinal on the men’s swimming and water polo teams. After serving as a Navy SEAL, he returned to the Farm in 1962 to earn his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and also played rugby. During his time as a student-athlete, there were only a handful of club sport opportunities for women at Stanford. Now, more than 50 years after the passage of Title IX, Violich is extending his commitment to equity in athletics.
“Witnessing the growth and visibility of women’s sports at Stanford and in our society during my lifetime has been so rewarding,” Violich said. “Stanford Athletics is a leader in the world of collegiate athletics, and I’m honored to play a part in ensuring we continue to be the best place to mentor and develop female student-athletes. I am inspired to give back by my own experience as a father.”
Three of Violich’s five children participated in Division I collegiate athletics. Two of his daughters played soccer and lacrosse at Cal Berkeley, and his son played lacrosse at Dartmouth. In addition to Paul’s generous gifts to Stanford Athletics, Violich has also endowed athletics scholarships for women at Cal Berkeley.
“My daughters’ experiences as athletes demonstrated the impact of sports in shaping them into confident, competitive, resilient leaders,” Violich continued. “Athletics helps us embrace mental challenges, learn from setbacks, and self confidence. These are all life lessons that stay with you long after competition ends. The women’s tennis student-athletes display that grit, focus, and talent on the court every match.”
“I’m honored to be named the first Paul A. Violich Director of Women’s Tennis,” said Brennan, who recently completed his second season as women’s tennis head coach. “Endowing this coaching position bolsters the program by providing permanent resources to impact player development and leadership continuity. Paul’s gift to support women’s tennis means a great deal to me as a coach, because he understands the crucial role we play in the lives of Stanford student-athletes.”
Brennan is a third-generation coach who completed his 31st year on The Farm in 2026. Since joining the staff in 1996, Brennan has guided the Cardinal to a 731-91 overall record, 12 NCAA championships, 21 conference regular-season titles, and six conference tournament crowns.