The Oglethorpe athletic department is pleased to announce the hiring of Paul Danielson as its new head tennis coach, effective immediately.
Danielson served as the program’s lead assistant coach for the past three seasons and as a volunteer assistant for a season prior to that under retiring head coach Peter Howell, helping the Stormy Petrel men’s team to consecutive 12-7 records over the last two years and to a spot in the semifinals of the SAA Tournament in April. The team finished third in the league over the course of the 2019 regular season. On the women’s side, the Petrels advanced to the SAA semifinals in both 2016 and 2017, earning a third-place conference finish in the former season and a fourth-place standing in the latter.
“I am pleased to announce Paul’s hiring as our new head tennis coach,” said Oglethorpe Director of Athletics Todd Brooks. “His extensive experience as a player and a teaching professional will serve him well in building on our ever-improving tennis program. We have been fortunate to have him for the past few years as our assistant coach and I know his familiarity with our program, and Oglethorpe University as a whole, will allow him to establish himself in this new role quickly and efficiently.”
Danielson ascends to the head coaching position after more than 30 years of coaching and instructional experience, having served as the head tennis professional and the director of tennis at clubs in the Atlanta area and Alabama.
In addition to serving as an Oglethorpe assistant coach over the past four seasons, Danielson has also worked as tennis instructor in Atlanta.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to become the head coach for the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Oglethorpe University,” said Danielson. “I’m especially thankful for Todd Brooks, Larry Schall, Michelle Hall, and the screening committee for entrusting me to lead, coach and educate our Stormy Petrel student-athletes. I’m forever grateful to Peter Howell and am privileged to carry on the legacy that Peter has left behind. Oglethorpe, specifically the tennis program, holds a very special place in my heart and to be able to officially join the family is a true privilege. I can’t wait to get started!”
The new Petrel head coach inherits a men’s team that went 5-2 in league play, in addition to their 12-7 overall record, in 2019, finishing as the 11th-ranked team in the Atlantic South region. The women’s squad finished 17th in the Atlantic South, compiling an 8-8 overall record, and finished seventh in a tough SAA in 2019.
