DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University Athletics announced a series of updates regarding the tennis programs and coaching staff on Monday.
Averett announced that it is suspending its men's tennis program – effective immediately – and will suspend its women's tennis program following the completion of the 2026-27 season. Along with those announcements, long-time head coach Bert Poole is leaving to pursue another coaching opportunity.
"This difficult decision was made after evaluating ongoing recruiting challenges and facility playability and costs that make it increasingly challenging to provide the experience and resources necessary for long-term program success," said Danny Miller, director of athletics. "The decision to continue the women's program for another year allows the current roster of six rising seniors the opportunity to complete their collegiate careers while graduating."
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Poole has led both tennis teams since July 2015, and has amassed a 250-126 overall record, with a 131-43 ledger in conference matches. In his time with the Cougars, Poole orchestrated a decade of consistency, guiding his teams to eight conference tournament finals, a conference championship on the men's side, a two-time conference coach of the year, and a two-time Virginia Sports Information Directors State Coach of the Year.
"Coach Poole has done an outstanding job of continuing the tradition of successful tennis programs. He built the programs into conference contenders and national rankings. His student-athletes are leaders on the campus and he and his teams represent Averett in a positive manner," Miller remarked. "He led our men's team to the school's first ODAC Championship and will be missed. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."
Poole has also guided individual success, coaching 81 all-conference selections, six conference player of the year awards, three ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, and 48 VaSID All-State honorees. His players' awards extended to weekly ones as well, with 58, and has also coached 21 Academic All-District honorees as named per the College Sports Communicators. Poole has had his teams ranked either regionally or nationally on 10 separate occasions, and multiple players of his were ranked in doubles and singles.
"It hasn't always been easy — in fact, it's rarely been easy — but when I think back on the wonderful young people I've worked with over the past eleven years, I feel incredibly fortunate. It's been a true labor of love, and I'm so thankful for my time at Averett. I loved the challenge of recruiting strong players, developing their games and competing, but what I'll cherish most are the relationships," Poole said. "Getting to know our student-athletes and watching them grow has been so rewarding, and they're what made my time here so worthwhile. We had a great run, and I'm proud of what we accomplished together — for many of us, it was the experience of a lifetime."
To support the program during its final season, Averett will begin a search for a part-time head coach to lead the women's tennis team in 2026–27.
