YEARS AS THE W HEAD COACH IN 2025-26: 1st
The W Athletics announced Hayden Embry as its new head coach for women’s and men’s tennis on June 15, 2025. Embry is a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi.
“We are excited to have Hayden join the Owls’ family,” Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. “In addition to his tennis knowledge, he brings in a strong background in recruiting and organizational skills at the collegiate level. Likewise, his energy and desire to create a positive environment will be a huge asset to our tennis programs.”
Most recently, Embry has worked in private tennis instruction and as a clinician. Concurrently, Embry - who is the son of legendary Mississippi prep softball coach Trae Embry - has worked as a teacher/assistant softball coach for the Oktibbeha School District (2024-25) and as an assistant softball coach at Holmes Community College (2023-24) over the past two years. On the collegiate level, Embry was a volunteer assistant coach at Belhaven University during the 2021-22 campaign.
Embry has been involved in tennis since he was a youth, and he played competitively through his JUCO years at Itawamba Community College, as well as in United States Tennis Association (USTA) events. As a prep, Embry graduated from Neshoba High School (2018), where he was awarded the Master Chief Tim Chestnut Student-Athlete of the year award as a senior.
A hallmark of Embry’s athletic career has been success both on the courts and in the classroom.
At ICC, Embry competed under longtime Head Coach Michael Metz for the nationally ranked Indians’ team. In his very first season, Embry finished as the runner-up in the MACJC/NJCAA Region 23 tournaments in both singles and doubles. He was a consolation semifinalist at the 2019 ITA tournament, as well. Embry had a shortened sophomore season due to COVID, but was still voted the Quality Enhancement Plan Student-Athlete of the Year in 2019-20 at ICC.
Embry also served up a winning academic career for the Indians, earning recognition on the Dean’s List both years. Additionally, he was recognized on the MACJC Academic All-State team in 2020 and honored nationally as a third-team NJCAA All-Academic team member. He was also a Phi Theta Kappa community college honors society member, earning his Associate of Arts degree in graphic design
In 2021, Embry won the USTA 4.5, 18 & over, state championship for Mississippi.
Embry went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communication specialization in computer language from Ole Miss.
“I'm incredibly grateful to Buddy Foster and (Assistant A.D.) Brian Merkel and the administration for the opportunity to lead this program,” Embry commented on joining The W Athletics staff. “It's an honor to take the reins, and I'm committed to building a strong and competitive culture. Together, we'll lay a foundation that develops not only great tennis players but great people.”
