GCAA Hall of Fame announces Hardin as 2021 inductee

DEMOREST, Ga. – The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association recently announced its latest member to the GCAA Hall of Fame. Oxford Emory's men's and women's tennis coach Pernilla Hardin was recently named as the second year inductee to the class. 

In six years, Coach Hardin has guided the Eagles to both the men's and women's national championships. The men have won five national championships during her leadership in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She has guided the women's team to five national championships in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The women's team finished second in the nation in 2014. Both the men's and women's team has earned all-academic team and individual awards as well. Coach Hardin has been NJCAA Coach of The Year 8 times. 

In May of 2020, Coach Hardin was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tennis Hall of Fame.

Coach Hardin played four years of college tennis in Florida. During her freshman year at Florida Junior College (now Florida State College of Jacksonville), she finished with a singles record of 27-0 and won the singles state championship tournament at her position. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Health and during that time was awarded the NAIA National Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award. She also won the State Singles championships at her position both years and helped the UNF tennis squad to nationally ranked finishes of #2 and #3. 

"It is deserving for Coach Hardin to be inducted. Five consecutive titles on both the men's and women's side is an unprecedented achievement and very difficult to duplicate," said GCAA commissioner David Elder.