Pete Francis Hired as Assistant Women's Tennis Coach

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head women's tennis coach Audra Cohen announced Pete Francis as the program's new assistant coach on Thursday.

"We are extremely excited to add Pete to our coaching staff," said Cohen. "Pete's experience coaching a top 10-player on the WTA Tour adds an important perspective that our student-athletes will benefit from as they prepare for a successful pro career. Additionally, Pete brings experience coaching top collegiate players in the ACC and Pac-12. This combo of perspectives will benefit our team immensely as we strive to make college tennis a viable pathway to a professional tennis career."

From Hampshire, England, Francis joins the Sooner with over 15 years of experience in the tennis world. He comes to Norman after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech during the 2022-23 season. Before working for the Hokies, he worked as an assistant coach for Arizona during the 2021-22 season and Georgia State in 2021.

During the 2020-21 season working for Georgia Gwinnett College as an assistant coach, Francis helped lead both men's and women's squads to NAIA Championships and undefeated seasons.

Prior to working in the collegiate world, he spent 2016-19 as a professional tennis coach for Sportime NY coachin,g and training top international junior tennis players. He also served as a travel coach for former world top-10 female tennis player Coco Vandeweghe from 2013-16. Francis helped coach Vandeweghe to a singles quarterfinals run at Wimbledon in 2015 and a trip to the doubles quarterfinals at the Australian Open in 2016. Additionally, Francis was part of the staff that coached Vandeweghe to be a grand slam finalist in mixed doubles at the 2016 Australian Open.

"Firstly, I would like to thank Coach Cohen and Coach Mariana Cobra for the opportunity to be part of this great school and program," said Francis. "I want to work and learn from the best and I truly believe OU and Coach Audra are that. I can't wait to meet the student-athletes and help assist in their future and development and have continued success as Sooners."

In his junior career, Francis became a top-10 player in the United Kingdom and earned top-200 status in the ITF junior rankings. He graduated in 2012 from Embry Riddle University, where he was a four-time All-American.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Pete Francis Hired as Assistant Women's Tennis Coach

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