Lele Forood

The most decorated women’s tennis program in the history of the sport was under the invaluable leadership of head coach Lele Forood for 24 seasons. She announced her retirement on August 20, 2024.

Forood amassed a 560-63 overall record, leading Stanford to 10 NCAA team championships in a coaching career that never included a title drought longer than three seasons. Forood also directed Stanford to 16 conference crowns and six Pac-12 Tournament titles while mentoring 28 All-Americans, five NCAA singles champions and five NCAA doubles champions.

A two-time ITA National Coach of the Year and eight-time conference coach of the year, Forood’s teams were equally successful as the favorite or an underdog. Forood remarkably totaled more NCAA championships (5) than overall losses (3) through her first six seasons, including becoming the first female head coach to win an NCAA title in 2001. However, the Cardinal also won it all as the No. 8 seed (2010), No. 12 seed (2013) and twice as the No. 15 seed (2016, 2018) – the lowest seeded team to hoist the trophy.

Stanford also produced several lengthy winning streaks under Forood. From 1999-2011, Stanford won 184 consecutive dual matches in a row at Taube Family Tennis Stadium – at the time recognized as the longest home winning streak of any NCAA Division I intercollegiate sport. The Cardinal also compiled an 89-match winning streak from 2004-2007, resulting in three undefeated seasons and three NCAA titles until a February loss in 2007.

Individual success was also a constant during Forood’s tenure, as she coached five NCAA singles champions and five NCAA doubles teams. That haul included Amber Liu (2003-04) and Nicole Gibbs (2012-13) claiming back-to-back singles titles, in addition to a three-year grip in doubles from 2010-12.

Forood was an assistant for five NCAA championship runs from 1989-1991, 1997 and 1999. In 1997, Forood’s efforts were recognized on a higher level when she was named the ITA Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year.

An All-American at Stanford 1976 - the first year All-America accolades were awarded - Forood was a National Collegiate singles finalist as a freshman and a semifinalist during her sophomore campaign in leading Stanford to two runner-up finishes before turning pro. Competing internationally, she captured the gold medal in both singles and doubles at the 1975 Pan American Games. She was also the 1975 national amateur singles and doubles champion. Forood was ranked as high as 30th on the women's professional tour, and had an impressive victory over Wimbledon champion and second-seed Virginia Wade at the 1977 US Open. At the 1976 US Open, Forood teamed with Rachel Giscafre to reach the doubles semifinals.

Forood was a member of the Board of Women's Tennis Associates from 1979-1987 and served as its secretary-treasurer from 1983-87. She was extremely active in promoting WTA events, and the recipient of the prestigious WTA Player Service Award in 1983. After the tour and before coming back to Stanford, she promoted the first professional women's tour event in France from 1986-1988 at Strasbourg.

A San Francisco native who grew up in Mill Valley, New York and then Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Forood earned a degree in sociology from Stanford in 1978.