Former Duck Courtney Nagle Named Head Coach
07/20/18 | Women's Tennis
EUGENE, Ore. – University of Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens announced on Friday the hiring of North Carolina assistant coach and former Duck Courtney Nagle as the next head coach of the women's tennis program.
A four-year letter winner at Oregon (2002-05) and a former volunteer assistant for the Ducks, Nagle has spent the last four seasons as the top assistant for a highly successful North Carolina program, helping lead the Tar Heels to a 122-12 dual match record, three ACC titles and two Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national championships. Long considered one of the top assistants in the nation, Nagle was named the national assistant coach of the year in 2017 by the ITA.
"Courtney's leadership skills, commitment to the student-athlete experience, ability to develop talent, and experience working with a championship program at highest level makes her a perfect fit to lead the Oregon women's tennis program," said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. "We are excited to welcome Courtney home to Oregon, and we look forward to all of the future success of our program under her leadership."
"I am so happy to have this opportunity to return home to Eugene and join Oregon Athletics as the head coach of the women's tennis program," said Nagle. "It's an honor and a dream come true to step into this leadership role. My journey as a competitive player and coach has prepared me to lead our program into this next chapter of excellence. I'd like to thank Rob Mullens, Eric Roedl, Nils Schyllander, and the entire search committee for all of their work during this process. Once a Duck, always a Duck!"
In 2018, Nagle helped the Tar Heels to a 28-4 overall record and their third straight ACC championship while also coming away with the ITA Indoor national team title. UNC entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed before falling to eventual national champion Stanford in the Sweet 16. Nagle also helped guide the duo of Sara Daavettila and Alle Sanford to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship, a run that included a win over the nation's No. 1 ranked pair. The Tar Heels finished 2018 with a program-record five all-America selections.
En route to being named the nation's top assistant by the ITA in 2017, Nagle guided Hayley Carter to her second straight ACC player of the year honor while also helping Daavettila claim the conference freshman of the year award. In addition to repeating as ACC champions, UNC won a school-record 33 dual-matches and claimed the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Championships, reaching the quarterfinals.
The Tar Heels were also the No. 2 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament before losing to UCLA in the quarterfinals for the third time in four years, and Nagle helped Jamie Loeb to the first NCAA Singles championship in program history. Earlier in the 2015 season, the Tar Heels won their second ITA Indoor national title. UNC went 31-3 in 2016, winning the first of three straight ACC championships and earning the No. 3 overall seed in NCAA play.
Prior to joining the Tar Heels, Nagle spent two seasons (2012-14) as the assistant coach at the University of Iowa. In 2013, she helped the Hawkeyes reach as high as No. 57 in the ITA team rankings and eighth in the Division I Midwest Regional rankings. Nagle earned her first full-time job as an assistant at Colorado during the 2011-12 season.
Before fully committing to her coaching career, Nagle competed across the globe as a world-ranked tennis professional on the World Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, where she earned World Team Tennis (WTT) Rookie of the Year honors with the Philadelphia Freedoms. She won 15 career professional doubles titles and reached a doubles ranking of No. 97.
Nagle started her playing career at Oregon as a walk-on freshman in 2002 before earning a full athletic scholarship. She helped lead the Ducks to NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2002 and 2004, and in 2003 she reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament in addition to earning a berth to the NCAA Singles Tournament. The first women's doubles all-American in UO history, Nagle was twice awarded Oregon's most improved player award. She was also the Oregon Athletics Pride recipient and was named the ITA National Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner.
Nagle graduated from UO in 2004 with a degree in human physiology while minoring in Spanish. After her collegiate career, she remained in Eugene becoming the assistant director of the Nike Junior Tennis Camps in 2004, and later joined the Ducks coaching staff in 2005 as a volunteer assistant coach. She moved on to Princeton University from 2007-2009 in the same capacity, before returning to Eugene in 2010 to once again become part of the Ducks' coaching staff in a volunteer role.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Brian Kalbas – North Carolina Women's Tennis Head Coach
"Courtney is arguably the best coach and best person in all of men's or women's collegiate tennis. She's accomplished so much already in her career and was a vital part of our program capturing two NCAA titles and several ACC championships. Oregon is her dream job and she had other opportunities to be a head coach, but wanted to wait for the perfect fit and she found it. Courtney is a family-oriented, driven and dedicated person that I know will be very successful. I'm so happy for her and the Oregon athletics department."
Hayley Carter - Former UNC All-American, ACC Player of the Year & ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
"I played for Courtney for three years of my college career, and she's one of the best coaches I've ever had. I was lucky to play for her. She's an amazing coach and has taught so much about so many things, on the doubles court especially. But she also taught me so much about following my dreams and my passion. She's been an incredible mentor for me, and I still keep in touch with her every week."
Jamie Loeb – Former UNC All-American, ACC Player of the Year & NCAA National Singles Champion
"I always loved having Courtney coach me on my court. She brings such a calming presence and is always so positive. She has so much knowledge, and her tour playing experience really helped me through that transition. She's someone I can always reach out to for advice, and I am thrilled for her to have this opportunity to be the head coach at Oregon, as it is well-deserved."
Nils Schyllander – Oregon Men's Men's Tennis Head Coach
"I am thrilled that Courtney is coming back home. She was a tremendous student-athlete and ambassador for the Ducks, and she is a Duck through and through. She will do an unbelievable job and she has proven that at every stop in her coaching career."
Erica Perkins Jasper – Intercollegiate Tennis Association COO
"Congratulations to the University of Oregon and to Courtney. I have been fortunate to know Courtney since our playing days in the Pac-12 Conference and have always held her in such high regard – especially as she has climbed the coaching ranks. In addition to always pushing for the best from herself and her players, Courtney is a high character human being and a tremendous role model. She does it all with great sportsmanship and class, and I am truly excited for the opportunity her student-athletes, the campus, and the community have to welcome this Duck alum home."
Stephen Amritaj – UTR Chief Tennis Officer
"Courtney was an invaluable part of the U.S. collegiate national team as a coach for the last several years. She helped many of the best American college players in their transition from college to the pros, and she was an instrumental part in their development."
Sam Paul – North Carolina Men's Tennis Head Coach
"Oregon is getting one of the best young coaches in the nation in Courtney. I had the pleasure and opportunity to watch her here at Carolina. We will certainly miss her, but we are so happy for her, and we congratulate her and wish her the best of luck."
A four-year letter winner at Oregon (2002-05) and a former volunteer assistant for the Ducks, Nagle has spent the last four seasons as the top assistant for a highly successful North Carolina program, helping lead the Tar Heels to a 122-12 dual match record, three ACC titles and two Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national championships. Long considered one of the top assistants in the nation, Nagle was named the national assistant coach of the year in 2017 by the ITA.
"Courtney's leadership skills, commitment to the student-athlete experience, ability to develop talent, and experience working with a championship program at highest level makes her a perfect fit to lead the Oregon women's tennis program," said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. "We are excited to welcome Courtney home to Oregon, and we look forward to all of the future success of our program under her leadership."
"I am so happy to have this opportunity to return home to Eugene and join Oregon Athletics as the head coach of the women's tennis program," said Nagle. "It's an honor and a dream come true to step into this leadership role. My journey as a competitive player and coach has prepared me to lead our program into this next chapter of excellence. I'd like to thank Rob Mullens, Eric Roedl, Nils Schyllander, and the entire search committee for all of their work during this process. Once a Duck, always a Duck!"
In 2018, Nagle helped the Tar Heels to a 28-4 overall record and their third straight ACC championship while also coming away with the ITA Indoor national team title. UNC entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed before falling to eventual national champion Stanford in the Sweet 16. Nagle also helped guide the duo of Sara Daavettila and Alle Sanford to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship, a run that included a win over the nation's No. 1 ranked pair. The Tar Heels finished 2018 with a program-record five all-America selections.
En route to being named the nation's top assistant by the ITA in 2017, Nagle guided Hayley Carter to her second straight ACC player of the year honor while also helping Daavettila claim the conference freshman of the year award. In addition to repeating as ACC champions, UNC won a school-record 33 dual-matches and claimed the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Championships, reaching the quarterfinals.
The Tar Heels were also the No. 2 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament before losing to UCLA in the quarterfinals for the third time in four years, and Nagle helped Jamie Loeb to the first NCAA Singles championship in program history. Earlier in the 2015 season, the Tar Heels won their second ITA Indoor national title. UNC went 31-3 in 2016, winning the first of three straight ACC championships and earning the No. 3 overall seed in NCAA play.
Prior to joining the Tar Heels, Nagle spent two seasons (2012-14) as the assistant coach at the University of Iowa. In 2013, she helped the Hawkeyes reach as high as No. 57 in the ITA team rankings and eighth in the Division I Midwest Regional rankings. Nagle earned her first full-time job as an assistant at Colorado during the 2011-12 season.
Before fully committing to her coaching career, Nagle competed across the globe as a world-ranked tennis professional on the World Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, where she earned World Team Tennis (WTT) Rookie of the Year honors with the Philadelphia Freedoms. She won 15 career professional doubles titles and reached a doubles ranking of No. 97.
Nagle started her playing career at Oregon as a walk-on freshman in 2002 before earning a full athletic scholarship. She helped lead the Ducks to NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2002 and 2004, and in 2003 she reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament in addition to earning a berth to the NCAA Singles Tournament. The first women's doubles all-American in UO history, Nagle was twice awarded Oregon's most improved player award. She was also the Oregon Athletics Pride recipient and was named the ITA National Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner.
Nagle graduated from UO in 2004 with a degree in human physiology while minoring in Spanish. After her collegiate career, she remained in Eugene becoming the assistant director of the Nike Junior Tennis Camps in 2004, and later joined the Ducks coaching staff in 2005 as a volunteer assistant coach. She moved on to Princeton University from 2007-2009 in the same capacity, before returning to Eugene in 2010 to once again become part of the Ducks' coaching staff in a volunteer role.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Brian Kalbas – North Carolina Women's Tennis Head Coach
"Courtney is arguably the best coach and best person in all of men's or women's collegiate tennis. She's accomplished so much already in her career and was a vital part of our program capturing two NCAA titles and several ACC championships. Oregon is her dream job and she had other opportunities to be a head coach, but wanted to wait for the perfect fit and she found it. Courtney is a family-oriented, driven and dedicated person that I know will be very successful. I'm so happy for her and the Oregon athletics department."
Hayley Carter - Former UNC All-American, ACC Player of the Year & ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
"I played for Courtney for three years of my college career, and she's one of the best coaches I've ever had. I was lucky to play for her. She's an amazing coach and has taught so much about so many things, on the doubles court especially. But she also taught me so much about following my dreams and my passion. She's been an incredible mentor for me, and I still keep in touch with her every week."
Jamie Loeb – Former UNC All-American, ACC Player of the Year & NCAA National Singles Champion
"I always loved having Courtney coach me on my court. She brings such a calming presence and is always so positive. She has so much knowledge, and her tour playing experience really helped me through that transition. She's someone I can always reach out to for advice, and I am thrilled for her to have this opportunity to be the head coach at Oregon, as it is well-deserved."
Nils Schyllander – Oregon Men's Men's Tennis Head Coach
"I am thrilled that Courtney is coming back home. She was a tremendous student-athlete and ambassador for the Ducks, and she is a Duck through and through. She will do an unbelievable job and she has proven that at every stop in her coaching career."
Erica Perkins Jasper – Intercollegiate Tennis Association COO
"Congratulations to the University of Oregon and to Courtney. I have been fortunate to know Courtney since our playing days in the Pac-12 Conference and have always held her in such high regard – especially as she has climbed the coaching ranks. In addition to always pushing for the best from herself and her players, Courtney is a high character human being and a tremendous role model. She does it all with great sportsmanship and class, and I am truly excited for the opportunity her student-athletes, the campus, and the community have to welcome this Duck alum home."
Stephen Amritaj – UTR Chief Tennis Officer
"Courtney was an invaluable part of the U.S. collegiate national team as a coach for the last several years. She helped many of the best American college players in their transition from college to the pros, and she was an instrumental part in their development."
Sam Paul – North Carolina Men's Tennis Head Coach
"Oregon is getting one of the best young coaches in the nation in Courtney. I had the pleasure and opportunity to watch her here at Carolina. We will certainly miss her, but we are so happy for her, and we congratulate her and wish her the best of luck."
Karin Young: "It's all so new and exciting"
Tuesday, May 03
Courtney Nagle: "I'm super excited for this team."
Tuesday, May 03
Sophie Luescher: "It's a really nice feeling."
Tuesday, May 03
Petra Salko Life after University of Oregon
Monday, December 30
