SWEET BRIAR, Va. - Head Tennis Coach
Dustin Hale, the winningest head coach in program history, will depart Sweet Briar College effective July 30th. Hale is set to take on a new role as the head men's tennis coach at Division I University of North Carolina Asheville.
"I am very thankful for my time at Sweet Briar College," noted Hale. "I have been able to work with so many great athletes and we were able to shake things up in the best way possible. I appreciate everyone's support during my time here and the pink bubble will forever hold a special place in my heart."
Throughout his tenure at Sweet Briar, Hale was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year in 2021, Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Coach of the Year in 2021 and saw student-athlete
Ana Patino '25 named the ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2022. Additionally, Hale led the team to its first-ever ECAC Championship title this past season along with national rankings and saw the doubles pairing of
Ruth de Souza '23/
Allison Wandling '23 earn a selection into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament.
Under his guidance, the Vixens advanced to the ODAC Championships Tournament six out of eight seasons with three appearances in the ODAC Championship match from 2021 - 2023. Hale leaves Sweet Briar with an overall record of 105 - 59 (.640) and an ODAC record of 46 - 28 (.621).
"We are deeply grateful to Coach Hale for his remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence," remarked Donna Hodgert, Director of Athletics. "As the winningest coach in our tennis program's history, he not only brought home championships but also built a lasting culture of discipline, integrity and success. His legacy will continue to inspire our student-athletes and coaches for years to come. We thank him for his extraordinary contributions and wish him the very best in his next chapter."
A national search to identify the next head coach of the tennis program will be conducted immediately.
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