Damon Coupe
Damon Coupe is in his second season as head coach of the Cal Poly women’s tennis program. Coupe arrived on the central coast following a four-year spell as the associate head coach at perennial national power Washington, where he helped the Huskies to the NCAA Championships during each of his seasons in Seattle.
“I look forward to continuing the winning traditions of Cal Poly women’s tennis,” said Coupe of the Mustangs, who advanced the 2011 NCAA Championships. “We have a tremendous group of women who have a strong will to compete, work hard and have fun together. This is an exciting time for Mustang tennis and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Mustang family.”
During his time with Washington (2007-11), Coupe helped transform a program on the periphery of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings into a squad that reached as high as No. 23 in 2010. Coupe, who oversaw the development of All-America selections Denise Dy and Venise Chan, earned ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year and Northwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year praise in 2009 after helping the Huskies reach the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. In addition to player development, Coupe’s duties at Washington included recruiting, budget management, fundraising and scheduling.
Coupe arrived at Washington after serving as the associate head coach at California during the 2006-07 campaign. With Coupe, California reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championships, finished the spring No. 5 in the ITA rankings and, individually, produced three All-America singles selections and one All-America doubles team selection. Additionally, California’s three doubles teams and five of the program’s six singles players finished in the ITA rankings.
“Damon has high expectations in regard to athletic and academic excellence and providing student-athletes with a first-class Division I experience,” Cal Poly Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman said. “I have no doubt that the women’s tennis program will accomplish great things under Damon's leadership.”
Coupe enjoyed a fruitful two-year stint as head coach at Santa Clara (2004-06) where he helped the Broncos to their first ITA ranking and a program-record 16 victories during his first season.
Coupe’s collegiate coaching career began during the 2001-02 season as an assistant with men’s program at Sacramento State. Elevated to interim head coach midway through the year, Coupe directed the Hornets to a Big Sky Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Championships.
A top-three singles player at Sacramento State (1993-96), Coupe then served two years as the assistant coach with Fresno State (2002-04). During his first season, Fresno State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships and posted a 17-8 duals mark. Fresno State reached the NCAA Championships again the next season and climbed as high as No. 30 in the ITA rankings.
Coupe graduated from Sacramento State in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He and his wife, Michelle, have a three-year-old son, Austin.
dcoupe@calpoly.edu
Emily DeCamilla Assistant Coach (805) 756-2768 edecamil@calpoly.edu
