BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Mike Stevens, who owns a quarter century of experience on the NCAA Division I level, has been named head women's tennis coach at Campbell University, Director of Athletics Omar Banks announced Thursday.
 
Stevens joins the Fighting Camel program after spending the last nine years at Cornell University, where he compiled the most coaching wins in program history and led the team to its first-ever Ivy League title. 
 
He has 21 years of Division I head coaching experience including stops at Cornell (2010-19), Binghamton (2003-10), Southeast Missouri State (2002-03) and Rider (1990-94).
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Stevens to The Creek," said Banks.  "When speaking to others in the industry connected to Women's Tennis, it was clear that Coach Stevens was a great person, an excellent coach and a tireless recruiter.  During the process, we talked about a vision for the program and his passion to be our head coach was apparent.  He stood out amongst a very talented pool of candidates and we are fortunate to have him as our next head coach."
 
While at Cornell, Stevens not only guided the Big Red to a school single-season 15 victories twice.  His 2017 club finished ranked No.-49 nationally and he was named the Ivy League Coach of the Year.  He recruited and mentored 2017 Ivy League Player of the Year Marika Cusick, who also earned ITA Northeast Region Most Improved Player honors.
 
In addition to the Big Red's accomplishments on the courts, Stevens' teams compiled a team GPA over 3.7 and a 100 percent graduation rate.
 
"I am so excited and honored to be the women's tennis coach at Campbell University!" said Stevens.  "I would like to thank Mr. Banks, Ms. (Wanda) Watkins and President (Brad) Creed for this amazing opportunity.  Campbell is a great place to recruit students to, and everyone I had the opportunity to meet with on my visit was wonderful. I can't wait to get down to Buies Creek and get to work with the women on the team."
 
During his seven years at Binghamton, Stevens led the Bearcats to a 91-39 dual match record, was named the America East Coach of the Year four times (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) and finished as conference tournament runner-up five times (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010). He coached the 2005 and 2007 America East Player of the Year (Zeynep Altinay) and the 2006 and 2008 conference Rookies of the Year (Juliana Umeki and Anna Edelman, respectively), as well as the Bearcats' first-ever Division I nationally-ranked singles player and doubles team. In 2010, Binghamton was ranked as high as No. 68 in the ITA National Poll and finished the year ranked ninth in the ITA Northeast Region.
 
Recognized as a talented recruiter, Stevens' 2007 and 2009 classes were nationally ranked among the top mid-major programs by tennisrecruiting.net, including a No.-4 rating in 2007.
 
He moved to Binghamton after spending one season at Southeast Missouri State (2002-03), where his team quadrupled its victory total from the previous season and recorded its best campaign in five years.
 
Prior to his time at SEMO, Stevens served as assistant men's and women's coach at NC State (2001-02) and assistant women's coach at Yale for two years (1999-2001).  During his time in New Haven, he served as acting head coach in the 2000 spring semester while the head coach was on maternity leave.  He guided that unit to a 15-6 dual match record and No.-61 ranking in the country.
 
Stevens also served as head men's and women's tennis coach at Rider.  He led the Broncs men to a third-place finish in the Northeast Conference in 1991 and the women to a runner-up showing one year later.
 
A 1987 graduate of the University of Richmond with a bachelor's degree in business. Stevens served as a product development specialist for the Prince Sports Group from 1992-96 and as Director of Tennis Operations for the Currituck Club in Corolla, N.C., from 1996-1999.
 
He takes over a Campbell team that posted a 13-11 overall record and reached the 2019 Big South Conference semifinals.