Lauren Embree
University of Florida, Assistant Coach – Fourth Year (June 2019 – present)
Her wins clinched a pair of NCAA team titles for the Florida Gators. Lauren Embree joined the Gator program as assistant coach in June of 2019.
Embree, a five-time All-American at UF, returned to the Swamp after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Pepperdine where she helped guide the Waves to a pair of NCAA Championship appearances and conference titles.
During the 2022 campaig, Embree helped the Gators to a 21-7 mark and first Round of 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017. Florida qualified for its 34th-consecutive NCAA Tournament and hosted the first and second rounds for the 21st time since 1999. Embree continued to help in the development of graduate student, McCartney Kessler, as she was named First Team All-SEC as well as the SEC Player of the Year and an ITA All-American. Alicia Dudeney, who earned SEC All-Freshman honors, joined Marlee Zein on the Second Team All-SEC list, both of whom benefitted from working with Embree.
She helped steer the Gators to a 13-8 finish in 2021 as Florida qualified for its 33rd-straight NCAA Tournament. Providing a calming voice during the challenging season that was 2020-21, Embree helped UF secure seven-straight wins to close out the regular season. Florida, which hosted the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the 20th time since 1999, featured a pair of All-Americans in McCartney Kessler and Marlee Zein. Under Embree's watch, Kessler flourished and produced her best college season yet. The Georgia native earned ITA Most Improved Senior honors (Southeast Regional) after going 14-2 in dual match play. Sydney Berlin also took a huge step forward thanks to Embree's guidance as the lefthander collected 18 wins overall.
Working alongside her former head coach Roland Thornqvist for the first time, Embree produced a 5-4 record in the shortened season of 2020. The Gators took on one of the nation's most-challenging schedules in the early going and continued to display strong signs of progress as the season grew older. The Marco Island, Fla. native helped guide Florida to consecutive top 50 road wins over No. 47 Alabama and No. 48 Auburn in February. From an individual perspective, Embree's presence was felt almost immediately as she forged connections with the young Gator squad and helped further the development of all seven Gator student-athletes.
In 2019, Embree and Pepperdine advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal where they fell to eventual champion Stanford and in 2018 the Waves made a run to the Round of 16. Pepperdine used 9-0 records to win the West Coast Conference in 2018 and 2019. Coaching alongside Per Nilsson, Embree helped produce 17 All-West Coast Conference honorees in her two seasons.
Before moving to Malibu to join the Pepperdine staff, Embree enjoyed a strong career on the collegiate and professional level. Embree, one of the most decorated players in program history, starred at Florida from 2009-13 and helped the Gators secure National Championships in 2011 and 2012. In each of the title matches, Embree earned the decisive point to clinch the match. As a result she finished as the NCAA Tournament's Most Valuable Player twice.
Registering a remarkable 117-16 singles record and a 119-25 mark in doubles, she notched five All-American honors and was named SEC Player of the Year three times. The only player in conference history to garner the award on three occasions, Embree posted an unblemished 38-0 record in SEC matches. Collecting several individual honors over the course of her four year career, Embree was tabbed the ITA National Rookie of the Year in 2010, ITA National Senior Player of the Year in 2013 and claimed the tennis division for the Honda Award in 2011 and 2013.
She spent the entirety of her senior season ranked No. 1 in the ITA rankings, posting a dual match record of 20-1.
After earning her Bachelor's Degree in Sport Management from UF, Embree competed on the ITF Pro Circuit from 2014-17. Traveling around the globe, Embree amassed 92 career singles wins and 60 career doubles victories while recording four doubles titles and two singles titles.
Following her stint on the professional tour, Embree returned to UF as a volunteer assistant in 2017 and helped the Gators capture their seventh NCAA title.
Embree gained valuable experience on the ITF junior circuit before signing with Florida, competing in the French Open and French Open juniors, Australian Open juniors and US Open Juniors.
Thornqvist on Embree
"We are so fortunate to be able to get Lauren back to help us reach new heights of excellence. Obviously she knows firsthand what it takes to get there and will provide crucial leadership to this young group," Thornqvist said. "Her professionalism and character are exactly what we need and what better role model for our players than perhaps the greatest team player to ever have worn our jersey."
In her own words - Lauren Embree
"It was a dream come true to have played four years here, and when it was over I hoped I would be back one day. You just can't get enough of this place and the amazing and passionate Gator family," said Embree. "I feel so grateful and fortunate to be given an opportunity to coach these young ladies aside an incredible coach,
Roland Thornqvist. Thank you Gator nation for having me back, I will not disappoint!"
