Billy Pate

Billy Pate is the head coach of Princeton University men’s tennis and one of the most respected leaders in collegiate tennis, entering his 31st season as a college head coach and having completed his 13th season at Princeton during the 2023–24 campaign. Since arriving in Princeton, Pate has transformed the program into a consistent national contender, guiding the Tigers to more than 200 dual-match victories, multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, and the highest national rankings in program history. Under his leadership, Princeton has been ranked as high as No. 18 nationally and has regularly faced elite competition, helping elevate the program’s national profile while emphasizing character, accountability, and long-term development. The 2023–24 season marked another milestone, as Princeton returned to the NCAA Tournament with a 22–8 overall record and rose as high as No. 21 in the ITA team rankings. Pate’s teams have earned victories over numerous ranked opponents, captured championship titles at the Blue Gray Classic and ECAC Championships, and developed elite individual performers, including Ivy League award winners, NCAA singles and doubles qualifiers, and nationally ranked players. His tenure has produced All-Ivy League honorees, NCAA doubles teams advancing deep into national competition, and sustained academic recognition through ITA All-Academic Team honors. Before Princeton, Pate spent a decade as head coach at the University of Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and earning SEC and ITA regional coaching honors. His coaching career also includes successful stints at Notre Dame and Georgia Perimeter College, where he won multiple national junior college championships. A former collegiate player at Mississippi State, Pate is deeply involved in the governance of collegiate tennis and continues to shape the sport nationally through leadership roles within the ITA and USTA.