Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Price Announces Retirement From Women's Tennis Program
5/13/2014 9:43:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — After 32 years of leading the Davidson women's tennis program, head coach Caroline Price announced today that she will retire in June.
"Davidson is a special and unique place — the place and history and most notably the people," said Price. "It was a privilege to spend my coaching career here, a place where I believe the philosophy of intercollegiate athletics is kept in proper perspective. You get a great education, while doing things you love. When I arrived on campus decades ago, I sensed 'bright futures,' and now as I leave, I continue to see 'bright futures.' Davidson is special and I want to again thank the school and athletic administration for the opportunity to coach the Wildcats. It was such a great honor!"
Price and the women's tennis program has been a staple together dating back to 1983 when she began her exemplary tenure at Davidson. Over the past 32 years, her career has been filled with numerous highlights. She guided the Wildcats to a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship match, while taking home the 1984 national championship. It's the only national championship title ever earned by a Davidson athletic team. The following year, Price guided the 'Cats back to the championship match on their way to a school-record 21 wins in 1985.
Fast forward a few years and Price went on to earn a Big South Championship title in 1991 and then finished runner-up in 1992. During it all, she registered 22 winning seasons, including nine straight years from 2002 to 2010. During that nine-year run, the 'Cats reached the Southern Conference Tournament final four times and went a combined 150-71, including a 20-6 season in 2005, the second-best ever in school history.
"It's impossible to quantify the impact of Caroline's 32 years in Davidson College Athletics," said athletics director Jim Murphy. "Her love of competition mixed with kindness and caring has yielded lifelong lessons of guidance and growth in her players and those around her. We'll miss Caroline and anticipate her next set of adventures."
Price also smoothly handled a pair of changes to the program during her 32-year tenure. Her first challenge came in 1987 when Davidson began competing at the Division I level without the advantage of scholarships. Despite the lack of funds and the marked increase in competition, Price's teams still managed to garner more wins than losses. It was not until the 1990-91 season, the first time Davidson College offered scholarships to women, that Price was able to offer scholarships to her players.
In 1993, Davidson started competing as a member of the SoCon after a successful two-year stint as a member of the Big South Conference. Moving up yet another level in competition, the Wildcats responded to the newest challenge by finishing the season 12-5 for a second-place finish in the league. The 'Cats went on to finish 115-88 during their 21-year stay in the SoCon, finishing runner-up in the tournament four times and reaching the semifinals seven times.
During her tenure, Price coached one of the best players in program history in Dana Casner Sterling '99, who is one of four women's tennis players to earn a spot in the Davidson Hall of Fame. Under Price's guidance, Davidson had two SoCon Freshman of the Year (Dana Casner Sterling-1996 and Kelsey Linville-2004) and saw 21 players earn all-conference honors. Of those 21 players, eight of them were repeat All-SoCon picks, including Casner, Kelly Fillnow and Linville, who were each three-time first-team picks in singles, with Casner the only four-time all-league member at Davidson. The twins of Kelly and Meghan Fillnow made the first or second doubles teams all four years, while Virginia Berry and Ashley Maner twice won the SoCon Sportsmanship Award.
Among active Davidson coaches, Price has one of the highest overall winning percentage (.584) of any women's team. A three-time SoCon Coach of the Year ('94, '96, 2002), Price concludes her storied coaching career with 422 wins, fourth-most all-time in Davidson athletic history behind hall of fame men's tennis coach Jeff Frank (541), men's basketball coach Bob McKillop (472) and baseball coach Dick Cooke (465).
"Davidson is a special and unique place — the place and history and most notably the people," said Price. "It was a privilege to spend my coaching career here, a place where I believe the philosophy of intercollegiate athletics is kept in proper perspective. You get a great education, while doing things you love. When I arrived on campus decades ago, I sensed 'bright futures,' and now as I leave, I continue to see 'bright futures.' Davidson is special and I want to again thank the school and athletic administration for the opportunity to coach the Wildcats. It was such a great honor!"
Price and the women's tennis program has been a staple together dating back to 1983 when she began her exemplary tenure at Davidson. Over the past 32 years, her career has been filled with numerous highlights. She guided the Wildcats to a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship match, while taking home the 1984 national championship. It's the only national championship title ever earned by a Davidson athletic team. The following year, Price guided the 'Cats back to the championship match on their way to a school-record 21 wins in 1985.
Fast forward a few years and Price went on to earn a Big South Championship title in 1991 and then finished runner-up in 1992. During it all, she registered 22 winning seasons, including nine straight years from 2002 to 2010. During that nine-year run, the 'Cats reached the Southern Conference Tournament final four times and went a combined 150-71, including a 20-6 season in 2005, the second-best ever in school history.
"It's impossible to quantify the impact of Caroline's 32 years in Davidson College Athletics," said athletics director Jim Murphy. "Her love of competition mixed with kindness and caring has yielded lifelong lessons of guidance and growth in her players and those around her. We'll miss Caroline and anticipate her next set of adventures."
Price also smoothly handled a pair of changes to the program during her 32-year tenure. Her first challenge came in 1987 when Davidson began competing at the Division I level without the advantage of scholarships. Despite the lack of funds and the marked increase in competition, Price's teams still managed to garner more wins than losses. It was not until the 1990-91 season, the first time Davidson College offered scholarships to women, that Price was able to offer scholarships to her players.
In 1993, Davidson started competing as a member of the SoCon after a successful two-year stint as a member of the Big South Conference. Moving up yet another level in competition, the Wildcats responded to the newest challenge by finishing the season 12-5 for a second-place finish in the league. The 'Cats went on to finish 115-88 during their 21-year stay in the SoCon, finishing runner-up in the tournament four times and reaching the semifinals seven times.
During her tenure, Price coached one of the best players in program history in Dana Casner Sterling '99, who is one of four women's tennis players to earn a spot in the Davidson Hall of Fame. Under Price's guidance, Davidson had two SoCon Freshman of the Year (Dana Casner Sterling-1996 and Kelsey Linville-2004) and saw 21 players earn all-conference honors. Of those 21 players, eight of them were repeat All-SoCon picks, including Casner, Kelly Fillnow and Linville, who were each three-time first-team picks in singles, with Casner the only four-time all-league member at Davidson. The twins of Kelly and Meghan Fillnow made the first or second doubles teams all four years, while Virginia Berry and Ashley Maner twice won the SoCon Sportsmanship Award.
Among active Davidson coaches, Price has one of the highest overall winning percentage (.584) of any women's team. A three-time SoCon Coach of the Year ('94, '96, 2002), Price concludes her storied coaching career with 422 wins, fourth-most all-time in Davidson athletic history behind hall of fame men's tennis coach Jeff Frank (541), men's basketball coach Bob McKillop (472) and baseball coach Dick Cooke (465).
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