Drew Barrett - Men's Tennis Coach - Davidson College Athletics

Photo by: Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com

Drew Barrett

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
drbarrett@davidson.edu
Phone:
2438

Drew Barrett joined the Davidson College athletic department in August of 2006 to lead the men's tennis program.

In his 19 year tenure, he has compiled a 171-195 overall record (25-53 SoCon & 29-8 A-10) while leading the 'Cats to 10 or more wins in a season on nine occasions. With 16 wins during the 2018 campaign, Barrett made it back-to-back seasons with 16 victories, marking the most since 1994 when the Wildcats had 16 as well. Overall, Barrett has collected 204 wins during his 24 seasons at Bradley and Davidson.

During the 2022-23 season, the Wildcats went 4-1 against Atlantic 10 competition en route to their fifth straight semifinals appearance at the league's championship. Barrett coached William Clark and Alejandro Solares to All-Conference Second Team honors in the process, as Clark finished 9-9 in singles play during his senior season and Solares reached double-digit wins with a 10-8 record in the Wildcats' top singles spot.

The 2021-22 campaign saw continued success for the Wildcats, as the team finished its season in the Atlantic 10 semifinals after going 8-12 in the regular season and 2-1 against league opponents. Barrett led four 'Cats to A-10 honors during the postseason, as William Clark was named to the league's All-Academic Team along with Alejandro Solares, Maxwell Kachkarov and Udday Singh tabbing All-Conference Second Team nods.

In another COVID-shortened season during the 2020-21 academic year, Barrett led the Wildcats to a 6-13 overall record, including a semifinal appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship. The veteran coach also developed rookie Maxwell Kachkarov, who led the 'Cats with an 8-9 overall singles and doubles record, as the freshman took over Davidson's No. 1 slot. After being recognized by the conference as the league's Rookie of the Week, Kachkarov capped off his rookie year with an Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference nod.

Although the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not stop Barrett and the Wildcats from reaching the double-digit win mark for a sixth consecutive year. The 'Cats were able to get in 14 matches before the season was halted and went 10-4 during that time, with two of the wins coming against A-10 foes including taking home a 5-2 win against Saint Joseph's before the season was stopped. Davidson opened the season with four straight wins, its best start in recent seasons, and added two three-match win streaks including in the final three matches.

For the fifth straight season, Barrett led Davidson to another 10-win campaign by going 13-9 overall and 4-1 in A-10 play while reaching the semifinals of the A-10 Championship for the second consecutive year in 2019. The Wildcats had winning streak of four and three, respectively, during the regular season, and went 6-4 at home. Three Wildcats earned all-league honors with Axel Fries being named A-10 All-First Team, while Yash Parikh and freshman Sam Kavarana were each tabbed all-second team.

The 2018 season marked the second year in a row Davidson hit the 16-win mark, finishing with a strong 16-7 record and going undefeated in Atlantic 10 matches at 5-0. Barrett saw the Wildcats reach the A-10 semifinals in the league championship for the first time since joining the A-10 in 2014-15. The 'Cats ran off a season-high six-match win streak, while compiling three three-match win streaks during the season. In addition, they went an impressive 9-3 at home, running off a six-match win streak on their home courts.

Barrett saw one of his most successful classes graduate in 2018 (55 wins in four years) in the quartet of Shamael Chaudhry, Artem Khrapko, David Hager and Jack Riazzi. Chaudhry and Khrapko were each named to the 2018 A-10 All-First Team, with Chaudhry becaming the first Wildcat since Hall of Famer Jon Pastel to earn first-team all-league all four years. Khrapko, who was named A-10 Player of the Week three times as a senior, finished his career with 52 singles wins and Hager had one more win for 53. Riazzi ended his final season with a personal-best 14-5 singles mark and had 29 total wins in four years. Barrett saw 10 of his players earn A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll honors for the year.

It was another strong season for Davidson in 2017 as Barrett guided the Wildcats to a 16-8 record overall and a 4-2 record in the A-10. He reached the 100-win mark with a 6-1 win vs. St. Bonaventure, Feb. 11. The 16 wins were the most in a regular season since 1994 when they had 16 as well. Helping Davidson reach 16 wins in 2017 were seven and four-match winning streaks, respectively, while going 8-2 on its home courts. In addition, the Wildcats rattled off a seven-match home win streak to tie the longest since a seven-match streak in 2013.

Barrett saw freshman Axel Fries become the program's first Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year. Fries along with David Hager were named to the league's second team, while Shamael Chaudhry made the first team for the third consecutive year. J.B. Gough was the first Wildcat to earn a spot on the six-team all-academic team.

The 2016 season saw Davidson reach the 10-win mark for the fifth time under Barrett, going 11-10 overall. For the second year in a row, the 'Cats went 4-1 in A-10 play. They won four straight against Duquesne, Saint Joseph's, Dayton and George Mason, with three of those wins coming on the road. Davidson added one more win in the four straight at James Madison (4-2) for a season-best five-match win streak.

Barrett again saw two of his best players named to the Atlantic 10 all-conference team, as Shamael Chaudhry and Artem Khrapko were named to the first and second teams, respectively. It was the second year in a row Chaudhry was tabbed all-first team.

It was the beginning of a new era for the 2015 season and a very successful one at that as well. Barrett ushered Davidson into its first year of the Atlantic 10 by going 4-1 in league play to go with a 12-10 record overall. The Wildcats ran off a 10-match win streak during the regular season, the longest since a 12-match streak in 1997. During the streak the 'Cats netted all four of their A-10 wins on the year. They earned their first-ever Atlantic 10 win on the road with a 4-0 victory at Fordham. The Wildcats went on to earn the third seed in the A-10 Tournament.

The freshman duo of Chaudhry and Khrapko were each named to the A-10 All-First Team after winning 25 singles matches between them at No. 1 and 2 positions. They combined to win the league's rookie performer of the week three times and performer of the week once. Fellow classmate David Hager also had a solid debut season, going 12-5 and winning the A-10 Rookie Performer of the Week twice. Five players in all won at least 10 singles matches on the year, led by Khrapko's team-high 15.

The 2015 season also saw Barrett help assist the program in building new locker room's for the players and a brand new 12-court outdoor tennis facility.

The 2014 season saw six underclassmen, including four freshmen, suit up and see regular playing time in the rotation. Davidson finished 5-18 overall and 2-8 in its last year in the SoCon. The 'Cats season came to an end in a 4-2 defeat to Chattanooga in the first round of the SoCon Tournament. Barrett saw a pair of Wildcats earn league all-academic team honors, with Evan Watkins and Alex Howard each earning a spot.

It was a successful campaign in 2013 as the Wildcats fashioned a 12-9 record, including an 8-4 record at home, and went an even 5-5 in SoCon action. The 12 wins were the most since the 2008 season when Davidson went 14-8. They also advanced to the quarterfinals in the SoCon Tournament with a 4-1 win against Wofford, before falling to Samford to end their season. Davidson rattled off a season-high six-match win streak in the early goings of 2013.

Barrett saw his most-highly recruited class at Davidson finish out their careers as Joe Schafer, Chris Mark and Kevin Moore had strong senior campaigns. The class, which was ranked the 25th best mid-major class in 2009, each earned SoCon honors their last year. The duo of Mark and Moore were named to the league's second team at No. 1 doubles, while Schafer earned the league's Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award. The Wildcats' No. 1 player, Schafer was also honored with SoCon Player of the Week, March 5.

The 2012 season saw Davidson go 7-14 overall and pick up a 3-7 record in league play. The Wildcats were 5-6 at home, including rattling off a season-best four-match win streak. Under the guidance of Barrett, senior Calum Gee and junior Joe Schafer were the first doubles pair in proram history to earn a national ranking. The duo started the season ranked 19th in the nation. They finished with a 10-8 overall record at the No. 1 slot. In the Fall of 2011, the pair won the doubles title at The Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational in Midland, Texas, against some top ranked schools.

Barrett also saw his top freshman, Nicky Kunz, earn All-SoCon Freshman Team honors. The first-year player led the 'Cats with a 12-8 singles mark. It was the second time during Barrett's tenure he has had an all-league freshman team member as Schafer made the team in 2010.

On March 7, 2012, the Wildcats gave Barrett his 50th career win during his tenure at Davidson, scoring a 5-2 SoCon victory at Georgia Southern to open league play.

In 2011, the Wildcats compiled a 7-18 record overall, with two of those wins coming vs. the SoCon. Davidson as a team played seven matches that were decided by one point. The schedule also featured matches against nationally-ranked opponents N.C. State (57th) , Clemson (53rd), USC-Upstate (60th), Harvard (73rd), Wake Forest (37th) and Radford (63rd)- all ranks based on what teams were when they played Davidson.

Despite a tough regular season, the 'Cats did advance to the quarterfinals of the SoCon Tournament when they scored a 4-1 win vs. seventh-seeded Wofford. Barrett also saw sophomore Joe Schafer earn second-team all-league honors at No. 1 singles, making it the third time under Barrett a player has earned first or second team honors.

The 2010 season saw Davidson hit the 10-win mark under Barrett for the second time in the past three years, finishing with a 10-11 record. The Wildcats just missed out on being one of the top-four teams to advance to the Southern Conference Tournament, sporting a 4-6 record. The 2010 season was highlighted by two win streak, first a four-match streak at the start of the season and then a five-match win streak in the middle that included league wins over Chattanooga, The Citadel and Georgia Southern. Five times Davidson blanked their opponents, 7-0. Barrett saw three of his players earn all-conference accolades, with senior Eric Noble and Joe Schafer earning a spot on the All-SoCon First Team in doubles, sophomore Calum Gee getting second team honors at No. 5 singles and Schafer being named to the league's all-freshman team.

The Wildcats went 7-17 overall and closed SoCon play at 2-8 during the 2009 campaign. They did open up the SoCon Tournament with a 4-3 win over Samford to advance to the quarterfinals for the eighth time in the past 10 years.

The 2008 season saw him guide the ’Cats to their first winning season since the 2001 campaign with a mark of 14-8. The 14 wins were the most since the 1999 team went 15-9. Of those 14 wins, 10 of them came at the friendly confines of the Covington Tennis Courts where the team finished 10-2. Davidson also sported a 5-4 mark in SoCon play, while advancing to the quarterfinals of the SoCon tournament.

In Barrett's first season, 2007, he led the Wildcats to an 8-16 overall mark his first season and a 2-7 SoCon record. He also guided the Wildcats into the quarterfinals of the SoCon tournament.

Barrett came to Davidson by way of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., where he was the head coach of the Bradley Braves men’s tennis team for five years. A former assistant coach at DePaul and Illinois-Chicago, Barrett inherited the Braves' program that had won just one conference match in 33 tries before his arrival and helped build them into a competitive team in the Missouri Valley Conference.

In 2006, Barrett led the Braves to their first MVC Tournament semifinal birth since 1993 after garnering the program’s first main-draw victory in the conference meet in the dual-format era. The Braves finished with an overall record of 7-13 and 2-5 in the MVC.

Two of his players became the school’s first MVC individual tournament champions, claiming the No. 1 doubles crown, while another secured his fourth all-conference recognition and earned his third MVC Scholar-Athlete honor. In all, seven players earned MVC Scholar-Athlete recognition in 2006.

The 2003 and 2004 spring seasons were two of the most successful in Bradley’s history. Barrett guided the Braves to a 3-5 conference mark in the spring of 2003 and a ranking of 13th in the final Central Region ITA Poll. Then in the spring of 2004, the Braves went 10-10 overall with a 4-4 mark in MVC play. The four MVC victories were a school-record since round-robin regular-season play began in the mid-’90s. He coached an MVC Freshman of the Year in 2003 and had the MVC’s No. 1 singles all-conference player in 2004.

Barrett also coached a winner of Bradley’s highest athletic honor, the Watonga Award. During his five-year tenure at Bradley, the Braves finished higher in the regular-season standings than any team since 1989.

Before his head coaching duties at Bradley, Barrett was an assistant coach at DePaul during the 1999-2000 campaign, where he helped guide the Blue Demons from a ranking of 125th nationally to as high as 48th in a season termed as the most successful in school history. The Blue Demons won 14 dual matches, with five of those wins coming over nationally-ranked teams.

A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, Barrett was involved in junior tennis in the Chicago suburbs for nearly a decade. Most recently, he served as Junior Tennis Coordinator for the Rush-Copley Healthplex, in Aurora and as Director of Junior Development at the South Barrington Tennis Club.

Barrett and his wife Mandy, formerly Mandy Alaks, reside in Cornelius with their two daughters.