GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart and William Smith Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian Miller recently announced that Emme Levenson has been hired to serve as head coach of the William Smith tennis team. The former Division I tennis player will also serve as an assistant coach for Hobart tennis.
"Emme's passion and enthusiasm are contagious, and we are thrilled she will be the next person to lead William Smith tennis," said Liz Dennison, HWS deputy director of athletics. "Her vision for the program aligns perfectly with that of the department, and she has the skills, experience, and drive to get there. We're excited for Coach Levenson to get to work with our current team and to recruit future Heron tennis players. It's an exciting time for HWS Tennis!"
Levenson spent the past two seasons as the graduate assistant coach for women's tennis at Springfield College. She helped mentor and lead a team that earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Team Academic Award as well as six members of the Pride that were tabbed ITA Scholar-Athletes. This season, Levenson helped the Pride to a five-win improvement over the previous year, marking Springfield's first winning season since 2021-22.
Levenson also served as a graduate teaching fellow in the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sports Leadership. She earned a master's degree in athletic leadership from Springfield in May.
"I would like to thank Brian Miller, Liz Dennison, and the entire HWS Athletics staff for this incredible opportunity," Levenson said. "I'm both honored and excited to join HWS as the head coach of William Smith tennis. This is an exciting time for the program, and I'm eager to help elevate it to new heights, building on a culture of strong leadership, hard work, and dedication. I look forward to leading the talented student-athletes, whose commitment to excellence is evident both on and off the court."
As an undergraduate, Levenson was a four-year starter at Colgate University. She led the Raiders to a record of 34-25 during her career, including a 12-8 record during her senior year when she served as a team captain. Levenson posted a 33-23 career singles record, including a 14-7 record as a junior. She earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2021-22 and was a two-time member of the Raider Academic Honor Roll.
Levenson graduated from Colgate with a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Levenson has an additional six years of coaching experience as a summer tennis instructor in her hometown, working to develop the technical skills of more than 100 individuals.
"Emme brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas from her experience as a graduate assistant at Springfield College and as a top player at Colgate," says Tim Riskie. "She will be a fantastic teammate for HWS Athletics, a role-model, and a leader for the Herons' tennis program. I'm excited to work alongside her to enhance the student-athlete experience and take both Hobart and William Smith tennis to new competitive heights."
Riskie, who served as head coach of both the Hobart and William Smith tennis programs since 2019-20, will continue to lead Hobart tennis and serve as an assistant coach for William Smith.