Manuel Raga - Assistant Coach - Men's Tennis Coaches

Manuel Raga

Title:
Assistant Coach

Manuel Raga joined Oklahoma Athletics as an assistant men's tennis coach in July 2023.

Raga’s second season with Oklahoma saw a 17-11 overall record and a 7-7 record for the Sooners’ first season in the SEC. With five newcomers joining the team for the season, the Sooners tallied 12 wins on their home courts. Oklahoma hosted ITA Kickoff Weekend for the first time in Raga’s time with OU, where he helped coach the team to the championship match against Stanford.

Raga saw the Sooners through to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, followed by their second NCAA Tournament appearance in his two years with the program. In the fall season, Oklahoma had three ITA Central Region Champions with senior Jordan Hasson winning the singles co-champion title along with freshman Oscar Lacides. Lacides also qualified in doubles with teammate Bruno Nhavene. The three athletes went on to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships.

Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Lacides and Luis Alvarez were named to the All-SEC Second Team and Lacides also earned an All-SEC Freshman team nod. Lacides and Alvarez, along with Hank Trondson and Jordan Hasson, were named ITA Scholar-Athletes. Alvarez was honored as ITA’s Central Region Player to Watch along with the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship and Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership honors. Lacides was named the ITA Central Region Rookie of the Year.

The 2023-24 season was Raga’s first season as assistant coach for the Sooners. He helped lead the team to a 21-5 season that included their 14th straight NCAA tournament appearance. The team advanced to the second round to extend their streak of second round appearances or further in the last 11 seasons.

The Sooners tallied an 11-match win streak and picked up nine total ranked wins, three of which were over top-15 teams. The home record for the team was 14-2, leading to home attendance records being broken throughout the season.

Oklahoma completed the season at the No. 11 spot in the ITA rankings, but was ranked as high as No. 9 during the season. Senior Alex Martinez achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 7 after winning four conference athlete-of-the-week awards.

Four Sooners were named ITA Central Region award winners with the help of Raga, including Martinez’s Senior Player of the Year nod.

Oklahoma earned six conference position titles and three all-conference team mentions in Raga’s first year with the team.

From Maracay, Venezuela, Raga joins the Sooners after enjoying incredible success since becoming head coach at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan., in 2019. During the 2022-23 season, he led the men's squad to the program's first NJCAA title since 1991 and the women's team to its first national runner-up finish. Additionally, Raga coached the men's squad to seven individual national titles and the women's team to two singles titles. He was also tabbed as the 2023 Wilson ITA Men's Coach of the Year, NJCAA Coach of the Tournament and compiled an overall 59-16 record with the men's program.

Raga coached several players to NJCAA and ITA All-America honors and helped them claim numerous individual national titles throughout his five seasons with the Tigers.

As a player, Raga started his collegiate career at Cowley for the 2012-13 season and became an All-American. He finished as the national runner-up at No. 4 singles, helped his team win the conference and region titles and place sixth at the NJCAA Championship.

Raga then played for Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., until graduating in 2016. During his time with the Swedes, he became a two-time All-American, three-time KCAC Player of the Year and the 2016 NAIA Most Improved Senior. Raga finished his senior season with a 14-0 record at No. 1 singles, helped Bethany capture three KCAC regular season titles and finish as high as fifth in the nation.

His family in Norman includes his wife, Alex, and their children, Sophia and Enzo.