Emily Wang (pronounced wong) was named the seventh NM State head women’s tennis coach on August 4, 2017. Since her arrival, the Aggies have captured one WAC Tournament title (2019) and appeared in the WAC Tournament championship match on two occasions.
“Interest in our head women’s tennis position was overwhelming,” Moccia said. “Emily rose to the top during the process and I was glad we were able to recruit her to NM State. With her playing background in the Big 10 at Illinois and her returning Eastern Illinois to success they haven’t seen in 25 years, I’m very confident she will do a tremendous job as our next head coach. I’d like to thank Erica Perkins Jasper, the ITA COO, for assisting me as well. Her knowledge of collegiate tennis coaches around the country was instrumental in our decision making.”
Wang came to New Mexico State after spending the last two seasons at the helm for the Eastern Illinois University Panthers. In her two seasons with EIU, Wang guided the team to back-to-back 14-win seasons for the first time since the 1993-94 campaigns.
“New Mexico State is a top-notch university, and I am excited to be part of the strong culture and part of the Aggie Athletics family,” Wang said. “The women’s tennis team has a lot of talent and potential. I’m excited to get on campus and look forward to a successful year.”
During her time leading the Panthers, Grace Summers and Kelly Iden were named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference team both seasons. Iden also became the second player in program history to earn three-straight all-conference honors.
Prior to her post at EIU, Wang served as the Dodds Tennis Center Senior Tennis Professional for the Champaign Parks District for seven years. There she instructed both adult and youth programs and coached various sectional and national youth tournaments. Wang was also an assistant coach at Centennial High School for the 2013-14 season during that stretch, and helped lead the team to a 10-5 overall mark – including a second-place finish in the Illinois High School Association Sectionals.
The Lawrence, Kan., native graduated from the University of Illinois in 2007 after spending four years on the Illini women’s tennis team. A captain her senior year, Wang was a staple for Illinois at the top doubles position and split time at the No. 4-6 singles slots. During her time in Champaign, Wang helped the Fighting Illini total 42 wins, including an NCAA Tournament appearance as a freshman where she and teammate Isabel Jarosz captured Illinois’ lone doubles victory.
Wang is also a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACH WANG…
Mark Bonnstetter
Eastern Illinois Senior Associate Athletic Director
“In the short time she served as the head coach of the Eastern Illinois women’s tennis program, Emily Wang helped solidify the program and develop it into one of the best in the Ohio Valley Conference. She has been a great recruiter for our University and has a knack for being able to connect and teach collegiate student-athletes. We expect Emily to do the same in her new position at New Mexico State.”
Mat Iandolo
University of Utah - Head Women’s Tennis Coach
“Emily is one of the best young female coaches in America. She possess the work ethic and the coaching acumen to succeed at a very high level. She will do the work to move the program to the top of the conference and on to the NCAA Tournament.”
Erica Perkins Jasper
Chief Operating Officer – Intercollegiate Tennis Association
“Congratulations to New Mexico State on the hiring on Emily Wang. It has been fun to watch Emily’s career in college athletics over the past couple years. I believe the Aggies are getting a highly motivated young coach, hungry to make her mark in Las Cruces on the campus and in the community.”
