Athletics Hall of Fame – October 7, 2006
John Santos, a 1986 graduate of Coker University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, was the first men’s tennis scholarship recipient at Coker. Santos was the Coker Men’s Tennis co-captain for all for years. He played both number one singles and doubles for all four years.
He was awarded the team’s Most Improved Player and was a two-time Team MVP, and was voted Best Doubles Player twice. Santos was the recipient of two of Coker’s highest awards his senior year: the CG Timberlake Athlete of the Year and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Off the court, Santos was a commissioner, a Resident Assistant, Chairman of the Cobra Club Committee, Chairman of the Coker Recreation Association, and a May Day escort. He was selected one of the Outstanding Young Men of America.
Santos still competes in various tennis tournaments, winning such events as the Charleston City Doubles Championship, the Charleston City 25 and under Doubles Championship, and the Charleston City 35 and under Doubles Championship. He is active in the Charleston community including coaching his children’s basketball and tennis teams. Currently, Santos lives in Mount Pleasant, SC, with his wife and children, where he is the Premier Division Coastal Manager for the Ben Arnold Sunbelt Beverage Company.