Eric Ratchford
Eric Ratchford begins his fifth season as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Lafayette.
In 2005-06, Ratchford guided both teams to school records for wins in a single season. The men posted a 17-10 overall record and the women recorded an 18-4 mark. Ratchford, who has served as the head coach of men's and women's programs at four different institutions, has a career record of 197-139.
Ratchford came to Lafayette from Manhattanville College, where in one season he guided the men's program to a 12-2 record and the Skyline Conference championship.
Prior to his stop at Manhattanville, Ratchford spent four years as the head men's coach at Robert Morris University. He posted an overall record of 51-36 from 1998-2001 that included back-to-back trips to the Northeast Conference finals in 2000 and 2001. Ratchford was named NEC Coach of the Year in 1999. He also served as the head women's coach at Robert morris from 1991-2001, tallying a 25-27 record and guiding the Colonials to a third-placed finish in the NEC in 2001.
Ratchford began his college coach career at Endicott College in 1995, guiding the women's program to a 9-6 record. He assumed the duties of assistant men's and women's coach at Idaho State in 1996.
Ratchford's first head coaching assignment was at Western Alamance High School in Elon, N.C. He led the boys' team from 1992-94, compiling a record of 49-7 and won the state championship in 1994. Ratchford also founded the girls' program at Western Alamance and coached the team in its first two years. His overall record at the high school level is 70-30.
Ratchford also has over 26 years of tennis teaching experience. In addition to his coaching duties at Lafayette, he is the director of the Lafayette College Summer Tennis Camp, which he founded in 2004.
A 1985 graduate of Appalachian State with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Ratchford earned his master's degree from Idaho State in 1997 in Physical Education Athletic ter's degree from Idaho State in 1997 in Physical Education Athletic Administration.
