Dustin Hale, 2021 Spring Headshot, Tennis

Dustin Hale

BIOGRAPHY

Dustin Hale enters his seventh season at the helm of the tennis program after being named head coach in August of 2017.

Hale became the winningest head coach in program history after leading the team to an 18-8 record and a third-straight appearance in the ODAC Championship match during the 2022-23 season. Notable victories for the Vixens during the season included fall tournament wins over DII Chowan and DI Hampton. The team dominated All-Conference awards with then-senior Ruth de Souza being named the ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete and players earning spots on the All-ODAC First Team at No. 1, 2 and 3 doubles and No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 singles.

The team went an astounding 23-4 during the 2021-22 season to compile a winning percentage of .852 while going 9-1 (.900) against conference opponents. The Vixens also made their second-straight appearance in the ODAC Championship match after 5-0 wins over Bridgewater and Lynchburg in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

During the 2020-21 Hale led the Vixens to a 15-6 dual-season record with the .778 winning percentage marking the first above .700 since the 2003 season (11-4, .733) and to the most combined singles and doubles wins (79) since 2015 (82).

The 2019-20 season saw success for the Vixens in both the fall and spring halves of the campaign. During the fall season, Sweet Briar introduced the Battle of the Blue Ridge, a bracketed tournament held on the Sweet Briar campus, and saw the Vixens claim the main draw singles and doubles titles.

At the 2019 ITA Division III Southeast Regional, then-first-year Kate Kotany won the "D" Singles Draw to close out the fall season.

After the 2020 season, Hale saw his tennis student-athletes honored by VaSID and CoSIDA, picking up a pair of All-State honors in both singles and doubles play, while recent-graduate Emily Wandling was named a two-time First Team Academic All-District selection and was also recognized as the ODAC Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

In his time at Sweet Briar, Hale has seen his student-athletes earn four VaSID All-State selections, one All-ODAC honor and one ODAC Player of the Week, while in the classroom Hale's student-athletes have earned two CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, one ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 10 ODAC All-Academic and five VaSID Academic All-State nods.

Hale arrived at Sweet Briar before the 2017-18 season, following a two-year stint as the head men's and women's tennis coach at his alma mater, North Carolina Wesleyan College. Hale led the men's program to a USA South regular season and tournament title in his debut season, while also leading the Battling Bishops into the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship Tournament.

While at N.C. Wesleyan, Hale saw his student-athletes recognized on the men's and women's side as All-USA South and All-USA South East Division honorees.

Hale made his collegiate head coaching debut in 2011-12, leading the men's program at Emory & Henry College. Hale posted a 29-11 record at Emory & Henry, as the Wasps reached the ODAC Tournament in both seasons Hale was at the helm.

During his time at Emory & Henry, the Wasps saw 11 All-ODAC selections and five VaSID All-State honorees.

Hale's coaching career got started as an assistant coach at N.C. Wesleyan during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, which saw the Battling Bishops reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship Tournament in 2010 and the Elite 8 in 2011.

As a student-athlete, Hale played four seasons at N.C. Wesleyan, including posting a 6-1 singles mark as a senior as the Battling Bishops won their first USA South regular season and tournament titles.

Hale received his Bachelor of Arts in both psychology and religious studies from N.C. Wesleyan in 2009.

Hale is a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

COACHING HISTORY

Year Overall Pct. ODAC Pct. Postseason
2017-18 8-11 .421 4-7 .364 ODAC Quarterfinals
2018-19 2-17 .105 0-12 .000 -
2019-20 6-2 .750 1-1 .500 -
2020-21 15-6 .714 7-2 .778 ODAC Championships
2021-22 23-4 .852 9-1 .900 ODAC Championships
2022-23 18-8 .692 9-1 .900 ODAC Championships
6 Seasons 72-48 .600 30-24 .556 -

SBC Tennis (@sbc_tennis) • Instagram photos and videos

PERSONAL

Education B.A. in Psychology and Religious Studies (N.C. Wesleyan, 2009)

ACCOLADES

ODAC Coach of the Year: 2021
VaSID Coach of the Year: 2021
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Ana Patino (2022)
ITA/UTR Natioal Player of the Week: Ruth de Souza (March 24, 2021)
All-ODAC Singles: First Team (11 Selections); Second Team (Four Selections)
All-ODAC Doubles: First Team (Six Selection); Second Team (Four Selections); Third Team (Four Selections)
VaSID All-State Singles: First Team (Three Selections); Second Team (Six Selections)
VaSID All-State Doubles: First Team (Two Selections); Second Team (Two Selections)
ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ruth de Souza (2023); Emily Wandling (2020)
ODAC All-Academic: 33 Selections
ITA All-Academic Team: 2022
ITA Scholar-Athletes: 10 Selections
CSC Academic All-District: Three Selections
VaSID Academic All-State: Three Selections

MILESTONES AT SWEET BRIAR

First Win: vs. Ferrum, 5-4 (Feb. 23, 2017)

First ODAC Win: vs. Ferrum, 5-4 (Feb. 23, 2017)

First ODAC Tournament Win: vs. Emory & Henry W, 5-2 (May 1, 2021

First NCAA Individual Championship Appearance: Round One vs. St. Thomas (Minn.) (de Souza/Wandling) (May 28, 2021)