Gary Simonette '08

Men's tennis is one of the oldest intercollegiate sports at Williams having debuted in 1884.

The two men who have helped shape the face of men's tennis the most since the turn of the 20th century are legendary coach Clarence Chaffee and his protégé, Dave Johnson '71.

The tradition of tennis excellence at Williams will be forever linked to the arrival of the legendary Clarence "Chafe" Chaffee who coached tennis, squash and soccer from 1937 until 1970, except for the intrusion of World War II in 1943.

Chafe attracted outstanding racquet sport athletes whose talents easily qualified them for Division I – Ivy League – programs, but whose all-around athletic abilities and interest in the unique and extraordinary academic opportunities offered at Williams convinced them that a small school experience would allow them broader involvement in campus activities. That parade of great athletes to Williams continued under Dave Johnson who elevated the Ephs to a national presence in his 20 years of directing the tennis program.

Chaffee coached the Ephs for 32 years from 1938 to 1970 and he compiled a career mark of 177-103 (.632), while leading the Ephs to 19 Little Three titles, three New England team titles, four New England Doubles titles and three New England Singles crowns.

When the Torrence M. Hunt '44 Tournament Courts were dedicated in September of 1996 the Chaffee Tennis House became a central feature of the upgraded facility.

Johnson in 20 seasons at Williams (1976-77; 1990-2007) compiled an impressive record of 252-62 (.803) and won three NCAA Division III titles – 1999, 2001 and 2002. Under Johnson the Ephs qualified for 13 NCAA Tournaments out of a possible 14 and they advanced to at least the quarterfinal round in each of the last 11 years. Three of Johnson's teams finished second at the NCAA Championships – 1998, 2000 and 2004; one finished third (1997), and two more finished fourth (2000 and 2006).

Bret Thacher '09

Dave Johnson is one of only two Eph coaches to win three NCAA titles with the same team and 9 of his 13 NCAA teams finished in the top four in the nation.

The Ephs compiled a record of 38-12 (.760) in NCAA Tournament play under Johnson and Josh Lefkowitz '02 was the 2002 NCAA Singles Champion. Lefkowitz was also the ITA National Player of the Year in 2002.

Johnson's Ephs won 11 consecutive NESCAC titles from 1993-2003 and his Ephs won the last 13 Little Three titles (15 overall). Twenty-three Ephs earned All-America honors under Johnson.

In 1998 Johnson was named the national Division III Coach of the Year and in 2001 he was the ITA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and in 2005 he earned NESCAC Coach of the Year honors.

In July of 2007 Dave Donn was tabbed as Dave Johnson's successor after an outstanding career as a player and a student-athlete at the University of Richmond. Playing number one singles and doubles his final three years, Donn helped lead Richmond to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2004 he became the first male tennis player at Richmond to be honored as the  Student-Athlete of the Year. Donn was also a three-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection as well as two-time team MVP.

During the summer months of 2002 through 2005 Donn served as the tennis director and assistant camp director of the Nike Tennis Camp at Williams.

"I first met Dave Donn when he joined my tennis camp staff in the summer of 2002, and I immediately felt that he had the makings of a fine college coach," said former Eph head men's tennis coach Dave Johnson. "The fact that it has worked out that he now starts that career here at Williams seems amazingly serendipitous. Dave is personable, highly skilled and off the chart motivated. Of all the young people I have met in this business, none offers the potential to be a truly great coach like Dave does."

In his first year at Williams Donn guided the Ephs to a record of 17-4, which included wins over 10 nationally ranked teams. The Ephs won the Little Three title for the 14th consecutive year and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal round for the 12th consecutive year. Senior Dan Greenberg was a singles and doubles All-American honoree as well as the ITA New England Champion, NESCAC Player of the Year and ITA Northeast Region Player of the Year.

Schedule
The fall season has traditionally featured a limited number of matches, but now includes play in  the Middlebury Invitational, Dartmouth Shootout, along with hosting the ITA Northeast Regional Tournament.

From the end of the fall season until February 15, when formal spring team practice begins, Eph players organize themselves to workout and play indoors in Towne Field House.

A two-week spring break trip kicks off the season in March. In 2009 the Ephs will spend one week in Los Angeles and one in Atlanta playing other nationally ranked teams. Upon returning to campus the Ephs will play their competitive NESCAC schedule, regarded as the best Division 3 conference in the nation, currently boasting 6 teams in the national top 25.

The spring is geared towards challenging for the NESCAC title and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament field.

Facilities
The Torrence M. Hunt '44 Tournament Courts feature 18 hard courts and in the winter months the Ephs utilize indoor courts at the Towne Field House to stay sharp. During the spring and fall seasons matches and practices are moved indoors to the Lansing Chapman Rink in inclement weather.

The Torrence Hunt Tournament Courts