Kopelman to Serve as Head Men's Tennis Coach as Department Begins National Search for its Next Head Women's Coach

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement Mike Lynch announced the promotion of current men's and women's tennis head coach Michael Kopelman to Director of Tennis on Monday. 

In his new role, Kopelman will also continue to serve as the head coach for the men's tennis program while the department begins a national search to hire its new head women's tennis coach immediately. 

"I am thrilled to recognize Michael's tremendous work in this way," commented Lynch. "Through his relentless effort and focus, he has built an exceptional program that will compete for national championships.  This promotion is very well deserved and represents the next step in the evolution of Babson tennis."

Since arriving in the fall of 2018, Kopelman has led the Beavers' men's and women's squads to unprecedented team and individual success. He has amassed 103 wins and helped his players earn multiple All-America awards while guiding the Beavers to four New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season titles and three combined NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Kopelman led the Babson men to 14 wins in his first season at the helm and helped Markus Nordby become the program's first Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America selection in more than two decades as the Beavers entered the Division III national poll for the first time in 2020. The Green and White followed it up by claiming NEWMAC regular season and tournament championships in 2021 before advancing to its first NCAA Tournament regional final. 

The Babson men ended the 2021-22 campaign ranked 32nd in the ITA national poll and are coming off a terrific 2022-23 season that included being ranked a program-best 18th after winning another NEWMAC regular season title and setting a new single-season record with 17 victories.  

The 2023 NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Kopelman's players have earned 10 all-conference singles awards and five all-league doubles honors. He also has continued to have success on the recruiting trail with five consecutive classes ranked among the top 25 in Division III by the Tennis Recruiting Network. Kopelman's 2021 group was ranked ninth overall and his current first-year class was rated a program-best fourth. 

"There has been a lot of hard work by our student-athletes and our administrative staff to get to this point," said Kopelman. "As our programs have continued to rise up the national rankings, so has the need for more focused attention for our student-athletes. This move puts us on an equal playing field with our competitors and allows our student-athletes to get the dedicated coaching and mentorship off the court they deserve. This change will also help to further accelerate the growth we have seen over the last five-plus years for Babson tennis." 

Kopelman has led the Babson women to four straight NEWMAC Tournament finals appearances and saw his 2021 team claim the league's regular season title before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Junior Olivia Soffer (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) became the program's first All-America selection in 2022 after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III singles championship, which set the stage for historic team and individual success last season. 

The 2023 NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Kopelman's squad won its first 15 matches and a NEWMAC regular season title on the way to advancing to its first NCAA Tournament regional final and finishing the season ranked a program-best ninth in the final ITA poll. Individually, Soffer became the first Babson female to win the singles draw at the ITA New England Championship before reaching the quarterfinals of the ITA Cup, and qualified for both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships along with sophomore Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador).

Soffer earned her second All-America award in singles and finished as the Division III runner-up, while Cristiani, the ITA Northeast Region Rookie of the Year, advanced to the round of 16. The duo also became the first in program annals to earn All-America honors in doubles after reaching the Division III championship match.

"I am grateful for this new opportunity," stated Kopelman. "I am looking forward to continuing to strengthen our program and believe our job will be very appealing to those who are looking to compete for conference and national titles."