KENNESAW, Ga. –  Director of Tennis Matt Emery announced the promotion of Simon Pritchard to Associate Head Coach on Wednesday.
 
"No one is more deserving of this promotion than Simon," said Emery. "He has selflessly served KSU over the nine years he has been an Owl and I am thrilled his loyalty is being rewarded."
Pritchard joined the staff in 2018 as an assistant coach.

"I am very excited to be named Associate Head Coach," Pritchard said. "I am extremely grateful to Matt for this opportunity and the trust and leadership he has shown me the past five years. I look forward to serving in this role and continuing to build a championship program."

Pritchard assisted Emery in guiding the men's team to birth in the semifinals of the ASUN Tournament in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

The 2022 season saw the Owl men's team set the school record for most wins in a season (15), road wins (8) and conference wins (7). The Owls knocked off UNC Asheville, Furman and Liberty for the first time in program history this season.
KSU earned national ranks three times during the 2022 season and finished the year ranked No. 75.  The Owls collected a share of the ASUN regular season title for the first time in program history.

The women's program has improved their win total four times, collected five ASUN First Team All-Conference honors and four ASUN All-Freshmen Team honors in the five seasons since Pritchard joined KSU. 

In the classroom, the Owls have been strong. KSU has taken home 32 ITA All-Academic honors and the women's squad has earned six ITA All-Academic team honors.

Pritchard returned to KSU after working as a financial analyst at Lighthouse Private Equity for one year.

Prior to working in the financial industry, Pritchard was a standout student-athlete at Kennesaw State from 2013-2017. While at KSU, he was a four-year team captain and currently holds the program record for wins in doubles and is second in career singles wins.

He was named ASUN Male Conference Student Athlete of the Year in 2016 and was a two-time ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year. Pritchard graduated from KSU with his degree in economics in the spring of 2017.