JACKSON, Miss. - Daniel Prado came to Belhaven from Morelia, Mexico and competed in two sports. By the time he returned as head tennis coach, he had already helped the Blazers reach the national stage and earned All-American recognition.

Prado has been selected to the 2026 Belhaven Athletics Hall of Fame class. His Belhaven career included four seasons of tennis, time with the men's soccer program and a return to the university's coaching staff.

Prado compiled a 38-13 singles record and a 43-19 doubles record on the tennis court. He earned All-Southern States Athletic Conference honors three times and helped Belhaven make four NAIA National Tournament appearances.

He contributed immediately. Prado went 12-1 in singles and teamed with David Mejia for a 12-3 doubles record in his first tennis season in 2012. He went on to win nearly three out of every four singles matches during his college career.

Prado received NAIA Honorable Mention All-American recognition in 2014 and joined a group of six Belhaven players honored that season.

His soccer career gave him another opportunity to contribute. Prado recorded 51 saves in more than 905 minutes in goal during his senior season in 2014. He finished with a 5-3 record and one shutout.

One of those victories came on the road against Rhodes. Prado recorded four saves in just his second career start in goal as Belhaven rallied from a halftime deficit to win 3-1. The victory was the Blazers' sixth straight.

Prado joined the tennis coaching staff as an assistant in 2016 after completing his playing career. Both teams reached the NCCAA National Championships that season, and the women advanced to the semifinals.

Belhaven named him head coach of the men's and women's tennis programs in June 2016. He succeeded Levi Patton.

"As an alumnus, it is an honor to become the new Head Tennis Coach at Belhaven," Prado said when his hiring was announced.

His first season brought winning records for both programs. The women finished 14-6 and the men went 12-8. Both teams advanced to the 2017 NCCAA Mideast Regionals.

The Prado family's connection to Belhaven extended beyond Daniel. His siblings, Gabriel and Mayra, also graduated from the university and competed for its tennis programs.

Prado's impact to the tennis program was profound. He helped the Blazers reach national tournaments as a player and returned to guide and mentor the next group of Belhaven tennis players.

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