Matthew Townes serves as the Head Tennis Coach at Morgan State University, leading both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at his alma mater. Entering his fifth season at the helm, Townes has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history, earning Morgan State Coach of the Year honors in consecutive seasons (2017 and 2018). His tenure has been marked by sustained excellence, competitive consistency, and championship success across both programs.
Townes capped a historic 2018 season by guiding the Lady Bears to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, the program’s second conference title, and an appearance in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship, where Morgan State faced top-ranked North Carolina in the opening round. That season, Townes earned MEAC Tournament Outstanding Coach honors while coaching the conference Player of the Year in Danielle Thompson, along with multiple All-MEAC and All-Tournament selections. On the men’s side, Townes was named 2018 MEAC Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to their seventh straight Northern Division crown and fourth consecutive division title under his leadership, while securing a fourth straight No. 1 seed in the MEAC Championships. Prior to becoming head coach, Townes held assistant coaching roles at Morgan State and Johns Hopkins University, where he helped the Blue Jays capture a Centennial Conference title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. He also brings extensive experience from junior and developmental tennis, having served as a program director, academy director, and USTA district coordinator. A former team captain, Townes graduated from Morgan State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology.
