BABSON PARK, Mass.—Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement
Mike Lynch announced the hiring of
Emma Davis as Babson College's full-time women's tennis head coach on Wednesday.
Davis will take over as head coach for
Michael Kopelman, who remains as the men's head coach and was elevated to Babson Director of Tennis in October. She inherits a Beavers' squad that finished 16-2 last season and is coming off the program's first NCAA Tournament regional final appearance in addition to featuring two of the top players in the country.
Davis comes to Babson following a two-and-a-half-year stint as an assistant women's tennis coach at Yale University. She helped the Bulldogs go 14-9 during the 2021-22 campaign to match the program's highest win total in nearly a decade and coached five all-conference selections over the last two years, including 2022 Ivy League Player of the Year Chelsea Kung.
Along with her practice planning and on-court coaching responsibilities, Davis also served as the co-director of the Bulldog Tennis Clinic where she provided instruction to players of all ages.
"I am excited to welcome Emma to Babson as our first full-time women's tennis head coach," commented Lynch. "Emma stood out from a strong group of applicants with her unique blend of experience as a former professional player and successful coach at the Division I level. She is a passionate teacher of the game and I'm confident that her on-court success and coaching experience will play a major role in the continued success of our program. I want to thank Jake Munick for his work leading this search and our current team members for their patience and contributions during this process."
A 2019 graduate of Wake Forest University, Davis was a four-year standout for the Demon Deacons' women's tennis program. She ranks sixth in school history with 191 combined singles and doubles victories, was a two-time All-ACC selection, made two appearances in the NCAA Division I Singles Championship and one in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Davis, who earned the ITA's National Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award in 2019, was ranked as high as 16th as a senior after setting new career highs in both singles (30) and doubles (31) wins as a junior in 2018. In addition to her individual success, Davis helped Wake Forest earn four NCAA Tournament bids and advance to the second round in both 2018 and 2019.
"It is incredible to add someone of Emma's caliber to our staff," commented Kopelman. "Her strong playing background and unique skill set make her an awesome addition to our team. I know Emma will serve as a fantastic coach and mentor to our student-athletes and I look forward to partnering with her as she continues her coaching career and embarks on her head coaching journey."
Following her career at Wake Forest, Davis competed professionally on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit from 2019-21, where she earned career-best rankings of 336 in doubles and 478 in singles.
"I could not be more thrilled to join the Babson family," said Davis. "I would like to thank Mike Lynch, Jake Munick,
Michael Kopelman, and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity. It is an absolute honor and a privilege. I am looking forward to working with Michael and Alan (Dubrovsky) to continue the team's success both on and off the court."
A native of Cohasset, Davis has served as a tennis instructor at the Weymouth Club since 2017. She will officially being her duties at Babson on January 3.
What others are saying about Emma Davis:
"Congratulations on hiring Emma Davis as the new head women's coach at Babson. As owner of the Weymouth Club, I have had the privilege of having Emma come through the club as her tennis home since age 8. She is an extraordinary person and coach. Emma is an amazing player and has been throughout her junior, college and pro careers.
"She has exceptional talent and a tremendous work ethic, a dedication to the sport she loves, and will bring all of this with her to the new position. Her team will benefit from her positive attitude, strategic awareness, competitive spirit, and coaching skills. She will make each player feel important as a team member and will bring out the best in them. Congratulations to Babson tennis, Babson College and Emma."
-Steve Goldman, Weymouth Club Owner
"Emma is a phenomenal coach and an even better person. She is extremely caring, hardworking and compassionate. Emma has a high level of playing background and understanding of the game that she will use to develop players during her time at Babson. One of her biggest strengths is relating and connecting with the players. We are so proud of her and look forward to the great success she will have at a fantastic institution such as Babson!"
-Rachel Kahan, Yale University head women's tennis coach
"I am so happy for Emma, Babson women's tennis and the entire Babson athletics community. She is a great mentor and leader for young women as the team transitions to split programs. With her New England roots, fantastic work ethic and knowledge about the game of tennis, I have no doubt she will lead the team to even more success. I'm so happy for her to have this opportunity and I look forward to coaching against her!"
-Erin Reeves, Colby College head women's tennis coach
"I am so excited for Emma and the players and program at Babson. Emma's commitment and ability to build relationships with her players and on the recruiting trail is going to make her a great head coach for Babson women's tennis. She knows what is needed both as a former player and as a coach to help players grow on the court and as a person. Emma also values the importance of working with her players to develop the team culture that will give them the experience they dream of getting from collegiate sports. I look forward to seeing Emma lead Babson to continued national success in the years to come! Her Wake Forest tennis family will certainly be rooting for her!"
- Jeffrey Wyshner, Wake Forest University head women's tennis coach
