Founded in 1956, the ITA serves as the governing body for college tennis from all of the collegiate sports associations; NCAA Division 1, 2, and 3, NAIA, and NJCAA. Today, the ITA works with about 1200 schools, 1700 programs, 3000 coaches, 19000 student-athletes, and 1500 officials. And for the last five years of Dr. Russell’s leadership, the ITA had a net gain of 28 college tennis programs.