CLEMSON, S.C. – Darrell Jernigan, who is in the second season of his second stint with the Clemson women’s tennis program, has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Head Coach Nancy Harris, who is in her 22nd year at Clemson, and her seventh season coaching alongside Jernigan, made the announcement on Thursday.
“I am so truly honored and excited to name Coach Darrell Jernigan our Associate Head Coach for the women’s tennis program. Working with Darrell at my side, our program has seen great success – making the NCAA Championship every year and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 four of his seven years. Darrell’s strong work ethic, experience and seven-year successful NCAA tenure make him so deserving of this title. We are grateful for his dedication to Clemson Women’s Tennis at the highest competitive level and his sincere daily commitment to our student-athletes and staff.”
Jernigan plays a significant role in the Tigers’ recruiting efforts, most recently helping to sign Ali Despain, a Blue Chip recruit and the No. 22-ranked player in the nation in the Girls’ Class of 2019 Seniors, to the program’s Class of 2019. He also aided in the recruitment of Clemson signee Eleni Louka, the top junior in Cyprus who has a career high combined ITF juniors ranking of 128, and who will also join the team in the fall of 2018.
Jernigan helped the Clemson program to its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in 2018, where the Tigers went on to upset 28th-ranked Ohio State 4-1 in the first round, before falling to top-ranked Vanderbilt. In his first stint with the Tigers, from 2005-10, he helped the Tigers to the NCAA Sweet 16 four out of five seasons, as well as two ACC Championship titles (regular season in 2007 and tournament in 2008.) He was named the ITA’s Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.
“I would first like to thank Head Coach Nancy Harris for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich and Senior Associate Athletic Director Stephanie Ellison-Johnson,” said Jernigan. “I look forward to continuing to work with Coach Harris and our Tiger tennis program on helping young people reach their full potential, both on and off the court.”
