Ramsey Smith, a former Duke standout and two-time All-American, became the Blue Devils’ 11th head men’s tennis coach in June 2008 after three seasons on staff as an assistant and associate head coach. Now in his 17th season at the helm, he owns a 309–155 (.666) career record with a 127–60 (.671) mark in ACC play, eight 20-win campaigns, and 13 NCAA Team Championship appearances, including seven trips to the Round of 16. His teams have finished in the ITA top-25 11 times, peaking at No. 7 in 2013. Smith has developed four doubles and five singles All-Americans, coached two ITA National Doubles Teams of the Year, and mentored two-time ACC Player of the Year Henrique Cunha. He was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2023 and ITA Carolina Region Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2012.
Recent seasons highlight both consistency and growth. In 2023, Duke set a program record with 11 ACC wins, reached the ACC Championship final, and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. The 2024 squad went 20–10 (9–3 ACC), reached the Super Regional, and ended No. 14 nationally. In 2025, Smith guided Duke to a 19–9 record, a fifth straight NCAA trip, and a No. 18 final ranking, while the doubles team of Cooper Williams and Theo Winegar finished No. 3 and earned All-America honors before winning the American Collegiate Wild Card Playoff to qualify directly for the US Open main doubles draw—the first Blue Devils to do so. A Duke alumnus (’01, economics), Smith previously ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in singles and doubles as a player and continues to elevate the program through development, culture, and high-level competition.
