The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced that Charles “Chas” Mulcahy (Marquette, ’59 and ’62) has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ITA Jon Vegosen Chairman’s Award, endowed by John Hess.
Honoring the longtime contributions of ITA Chairman Emeritus Jon Vegosen, the ITA Chairman’s Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime of service to the sport across a variety of areas.
“Chas Mulcahy represents everything the Jon Vegosen Chairman’s Award was created to celebrate: a lifetime of service to college tennis that goes far beyond the court,” said ITA Chairman of the Board Neel Grover. “From his playing days at Marquette to co-founding the Milwaukee Tennis Classic 50 years ago, Chas has spent decades creating opportunities for student-athletes and strengthening our sport’s community. On behalf of the ITA, I’m honored to recognize him with this award.”
Through a lifetime of playing, supporting and advocating for college tennis, including using the sport for community outreach among underserved populations, Mulcahy has embodied the defining characteristics of the ITA Jon Vegosen Chairman’s Award.
Mulcahy played collegiately at Marquette University, serving as the No. 1 singles player from 1957-59 and compiling a 28-4 career singles record. He was a two-time participant in the NCAA Championships and served as team captain in each of his three seasons.
In 1959, Mulcahy received the McCahill Award at Marquette, which is presented annually to a Marquette scholar-athlete who demonstrates the highest level of scholarship, leadership and athletic achievement. His daughter, Meg, also received the award 31 years later for her accomplishments in tennis.
After deciding to pursue a career in law, Mulcahy graduated from Marquette Law School in 1962. He was soon hired by a law firm but put his plans to practice law on hold to enlist in the Air Force in the summer of 1962. Following his military service, Mulcahy pursued public office and defeated a 32-year incumbent to earn a seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
During his time on the County Board, Mulcahy worked on numerous pieces of legislation and was honored in 2015 with the John L. Doyne Collaboration Award for his leadership in founding the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.
In 1966, Mulcahy established his own law firm, which eventually expanded to six offices across Wisconsin and employed approximately 400 people statewide.
Mulcahy returned to his Marquette tennis roots in 1975 when he and legendary Marquette athletic director and men’s basketball coach Al McGuire co-founded the Milwaukee Tennis Classic (MTC). The tournament was created with the goal of establishing a national collegiate tennis event that would put Marquette, Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin on the national tennis map. With 2026 marking the tournament’s 50th year, the MTC is one of the oldest and most historic collegiate tournaments on the college tennis calendar.
To honor Mulcahy’s contributions and legacy, the Milwaukee Tennis Classic Sportsmanship Award has been presented in his honor each year. The award recognizes one male and one female student-athlete who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship during the annual tournament.
In 2020, Mulcahy co-founded the San Diego Veterans Tennis Classic with the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and the University of San Diego. The tournament celebrates San Diego’s military heritage while supporting veterans organizations and community partners through annual tennis competitions featuring elite college athletes from across the country.
Mulcahy also established the Al/Adam Hurvis Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to incoming college students, and the Life After Tennis group, which helps Marquette tennis players develop skills for future careers.
In 1976, Mulcahy was honored by the Marquette “M” Club as its Man of the Year. In 1988, he was inducted into the Marquette University Athletic Hall of Fame.
With this honor, Mulcahy becomes the fifth recipient of the ITA Jon Vegosen Chairman’s Award. Previous recipients include Charlie Hoeveler (2022), Dick Gould (2023), Michael D. Case (2024) and Jon Vegosen (2025).
Mulcahy will be honored Saturday, Aug. 29, during the ITA Leadership Awards Weekend, which leads up to the 2026 US Open. He will be celebrated alongside other dignitaries and several student-athletes who have received national awards for outstanding achievements in STEM, leadership and sportsmanship.
