Ricardo Rubio finished his sixth season as head coach of the Pioneers during the 2020-21 season. Since coming to Denver in September 2015, Rubio guided the Pioneers to three Summit League Tournament titles (2016, 2017, 2021), four Summit League regular-season championships (2016, 2017 2019, 2021) and three NCAA tournament appearances (2016, 2017, 2021).
Rubio amassed a 83-45 (25-2 Summit League) record during his six-year tenure with the Pioneers. The Cadiz, Spain native has helped 19 Pioneers receive All-Summit League honors and coached two Summit League Players of the Year. In 2017, Rubio was named Summit League Coach of the Year after posting a 13-13 (4-0 Summit League) record and guiding Denver to its second-straight Summit League title and NCAA tournament appearance during the 2016-2017 season. He earned his second Summit League Coach of the Year award in 2019 after leading the Pioneers to a 13-9 (6-0 Summit League) mark in the 2019-20 season. Rubio's third and most recent Summit League Coach of the Year honor came in 2021, where he guided the Pioneers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, finishing the campaign 16-4 and a perfect 5-0 in league play.
Rubio had the Pioneers on pace for a record season in 2019-20 with a 12-1 mark and national ranking as high as 35th before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Prior to joining Denver, Rubio spent 13 seasons with the coaching staff for the men’s tennis program at the University of Texas. He served as an assistant coach during his first nine seasons with the team before being promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2011-12 campaign.
Rubio helped lead the Longhorns to the NCAA Championship title match (2008), as well as two NCAA Semifinal appearances in 2006 and 2009. Rubio also led UT to three Big 12 regular season championships (2006, 2008, 2010) and two Big 12 tournament titles (2006, 2010).
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) selected Rubio as its National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year in May of 2008 after helping the team reach the 2008 NCAA Championship match against Georgia. Rubio is also a three-time ITA South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year (2002, 2006, 2008).
As a player, Rubio moved to New Braunfels, Texas at age 14 to attend the Joe Newcombe Tennis Academy. After a successful high school career, Rubio was offered a scholarship at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he posted a career singles mark of 115-49 and helped TCU to three Southwest Conference team titles, as well as three trips to the NCAA Tournament (1989, 1991, 1992).
After graduating from TCU, Rubio competed on the ATP Tour from 1993-1997, with top rankings of No. 252 in doubles and No. 383 in singles. He captured three individual conference championships during his college career and was named the Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year in 1989.
