TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Dale White received quite a surprise earlier this week from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

While at the NJCAA national women’s tennis tournament in Tucson, Ariz., White was named the Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year at the women’s junior college level.

“I didn’t expect to get it,” said White.

White knew he had been nominated by ABAC athletic director Alan Kramer, but did not think his name would be called.

ABAC’s women finished the regular season at 10-5 and brought a No. 5 ranking into the national tournament.

“We’re proud of him,” said Kramer. “He’s a great ambassador for our program.”

Kramer, a two-time winner of the award (1998, 2007), described the award as being a “huge honor by your peers.”

White will be further honored at the 2017 ITA Coaches Convention, which takes place Dec. 15-17 in Naples, Fla. The convention is for all collegiate levels of tennis.