IMG Academy Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class

BRADENTON, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2026) – IMG Academy, the world-leading sports education brand, has today announced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class, recognizing Jimmy Arias, Tommy Haas, Monica Seles and Erika Tymrak, along with Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sam Zussman. Established in 2025, the IMG Academy Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose accomplishments, leadership, and impact have helped shape the institution and its legacy.

“Jimmy, Tommy, Monica, Erika and Sam represent so much of the history of IMG Academy, from extraordinary achievement in sport to the people who helped build this place into what it is today,” said Mike Milliron, Chief Operating Officer at IMG Academy. "As we welcome our second Hall of Fame class, I can't think of a more deserving group to carry this tradition forward.”

The 2026 class spans multiple generations of IMG Academy history, from some of the earliest student-athletes to those who experienced IMG Academy’s evolving model and leaders who helped shape that evolution.

Jimmy Arias | Tennis | One of Nick Bollettieri’s First Athletes

Arias’ connection to IMG Academy began at the very beginning. One of the original athletes at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Arias went on to become a World No. 5, win five ATP singles titles, and establish himself as one of the most accomplished American players of his generation. He was the youngest player ever to earn a world ranking at age 15 and reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 1983. Arias was also named ATP Comeback Player of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2012, following major injuries and surgeries, a testament to his resilience, work ethic, and passion for the game, with IMG Academy playing a role in each of his comebacks. Following his playing career, Arias established himself as a respected tennis broadcaster and analyst, including Olympic assignments with NBCUniversal at the 2008 Beijing and 2024 Paris Games, earning two Emmy Awards for his broadcast and analyst work. He has since returned to IMG Academy, where he progressed from Director of Tennis to his current role as Director of Player Development, Tennis. Today, Arias is deeply integrated into the tennis program, mentoring student-athletes and families while helping develop the next generation of student-athletes and representing IMG Academy across the global tennis community.

Tommy Haas | Tennis | Began development at IMG Academy in 1989

Haas’ connection to IMG Academy began at age 11, when he came to Bradenton, Fla., to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. He went on to become World No. 2, win 15 ATP singles titles, and earn an Olympic silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Games. Haas reached the semifinals at four Grand Slam tournaments and captured an ATP Masters 1000 title in Stuttgart in 2001. Following his playing career, Haas transitioned into leadership in the sport and became Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, one of the premier combined ATP and WTA events. He remains closely connected to IMG Academy, regularly returning to campus to engage with top players, alumni, and key initiatives. His continued connection to IMG Academy reflects the lasting relationship between IMG Academy and one of the players who helped establish its legacy on the global tennis stage.

Monica Seles | Tennis | Began Development at IMG Academy in 1986

Monica Seles’ connection to IMG Academy began at age 12, when she moved to Bradenton, Fla., to train at the Nick Bollettieri Academy. She quickly established herself as one of the most accomplished players in tennis history, becoming the youngest French Open champion at 16 and winning three consecutive titles in Paris from 1990–92. Seles went on to capture nine Grand Slam singles titles, eight of which came as a teenager, an extraordinary accomplishment even by today’s standards, reach the No. 1 ranking in the world, and win 53 WTA singles titles, including four Australian Opens and two U.S. Opens. A member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame since 2009, Seles has remained connected to the IMG Academy community through alumni events and other engagements. Her journey from IMG Academy student-athlete to World No. 1 and nine-time Grand Slam champion represents a defining chapter in the Academy’s tennis history.

Erika Tymrak | Soccer | IMG Academy 2005-10

Tymrak spent her entire high school career at IMG Academy, where she became one of the standout players in IMG Academy’s early soccer history. A five-year member of the IMG Academy Club Soccer team from 2005–10, Tymrak helped lead the team to the 2009 Florida State Cup U-19 final and 2008 U-18 semifinal. She was named IMG Academy Soccer Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and earned IMG Academy’s MVP honor three consecutive years from 2005–07. Tymrak continued her career at the University of Florida before being selected by FC Kansas City in the second round of the 2013 NWSL College Draft. She earned NWSL Rookie of the Year honors in her first professional season and went on to spend 10 years in the league, winning back-to-back NWSL Championships with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015. She also represented the U.S. Women’s National Team, scoring an international goal against Brazil in 2013, and recorded her 150th NWSL appearance in 2022. From IMG Academy student-athlete to professional champion and U.S. international, Tymrak’s career reflects the lasting impact of IMG Academy’s soccer program and its role in developing student-athletes for the highest levels of the sport.

Sam Zussman| Former President, IMG Performance | Lifetime Achievement Award

Sam Zussman spent 16 years with IMG and Endeavor, including five years as President of IMG Performance, where he helped shape IMG Academy into the world-leading academic-athletic institution it is today. During his tenure, Zussman helped transform IMG Academy from an athletic-only institution into an integrated academic and athletic model, expanding its reach and establishing a foundation that continues to define the IMG Academy experience. Following his time leading IMG Academy, Zussman continued in senior leadership roles across IMG/Endeavor, overseeing a global portfolio of sports, events and media businesses and working with properties including Wimbledon, the English Premier League, La Liga and UFC. He joined IMG in 2006 after five years with McKinsey & Company. Today, Zussman serves as Chief Executive Officer of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and Alternate Governor of the Brooklyn Nets, leading the organization’s overall business strategy and operations across its sports, media and entertainment portfolio. For his leadership, vision and lasting impact on IMG Academy, Zussman is the recipient of the 2026 IMG Academy Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

About IMG Academy
 

• Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
• Online coaching via IMG Academy+, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting, via NCSA and SportsRecruits, providing unmatched college recruiting education and services to student-athletes and their families, club coaches, and event operators, and is the premier service for college coaches.

To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.