Kenny Callender
INDUCTION: 2026
SPORT(S): MEN'S TENNIS
Wilbur Kennard Callender Jr. “Kenny” was born in Clinton, Maryland. He was a very active kid who loved sports and music. His father, a former college tennis player, (Howard University) would always play tennis with one of his older sisters (also a former Howard tennis player). Kenny would usually be throwing a football or baseball to himself or anyone else who would play with him while waiting for them to finish. Occasionally, he would play tennis for 15 to 20 minutes with his dad before heading home.
It wasn’t until his family moved to ST. Thomas, Virgin Islands at age 8 that his tennis journey truly began. He began taking tennis seriously. He became one of the top juniors in his section and was nationally ranked. Along the way he won multiple (ATA National Junior Championships). The ATA Nationals was created (1917) at a time when Blacks could not play in USTA tournaments. Kenny earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Louisville then Howard University. After transferring to Howard, Kenny would lead the HU men’s team in wins in the 1995/96 season and the 1996/97 season. Kenny consistently played the #1 and #2 singles positions while at Howard. Additionally, he was one of the top players in the MEAC Conference all his years at Howard. Kenny would affectionately be nicknamed “Giant-Killer” for regularly beating much physically larger opponents.
After graduation he would play Davis Cup for the Virgin Islands in 1998, 1999, and 2003. He was a singles player on the 2003 team that won promotion into group 3. As of 2026, the 2003 team is the only team to ever be promoted to Group 3 for the U.S.V.I. Kenny also played in the Pan American games where he would compete against a former #1 player in the world.
As a coach, Kenny has coached many nationally ranked junior players who have gone on to receive college scholarships. He also became a Davis Cup and Pan American Games coach for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kenny has worked at several high-profile tennis clubs. He also worked for the department of Parks and Recreation in D.C. Currently, he is a coach for the USTA (United States Tennis Association). He works on the USTA Campus in Orlando, FL., which is the largest tennis facility in the world. Additionally, he is in the prestigious RSMA program (Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship). The RSMA program held on the USTA Campus is arguably the most thorough racquet sports Management program in the world.
Kenny hopes to continue to make an impact in the tennis world. His passion and purpose are to help more people, especially blacks, to get involved and fall in love with tennis.