Ernesto Diaz

All American Tennis Player, Boise State 1992-97

Inducted into the Boise State Hall of Fame in 2004

Ernesto Diaz came to Boise State from Santiago, Chile, as a freshman in the fall of 1992.  In his first year he recorded a singles record of 29-8 and a doubles record of 24-5. During his freshman season, he also helped lead the Broncos to their first conference championship in men’s tennis in almost 20 years. He was named Region VII Newcomer of the Year, and participated in the NCAA singles tournament. He served a medical red-shirt the following season, and then followed that with three outstanding years.  In 1994-95, he went 29-13 in singles, 19-13 in doubles, led the team to another Big Sky championship, and a team berth into the first round of the NCAA tournament. His junior year saw another Big Sky team title and another team NCAA tournament berth as he tallied records of 22-13 in singles and 24-10 in doubles. During that season, he also participated in the NCAA singles tournament and the NCCAA doubles tournament.  He and his partner, Albin Polonyi made it to the round of eight, earning All-American status in the process.  As a senior, he was 16-13 in singles, 20-10 in doubles, led the team to upset victories over the likes of UCLA, Pepperdine, and Washington, among others, in route to a ranking as high as second in the nation in the spring of 1997.  The team won the Big West team title that spring.  In the NCAA team tournament, the Broncos prove those top 10 ranking to be true with a fifth place finish in the NCAA tournament. Diaz was  three-time All-Big Sky honoree, an All-Big West honoree, the 1997 Big West Player of the Year, and an All-American in doubles in 1996.  The Boise State team tallied a record of 3 wins and 29 losses in his four seasons playing as a Bronco.