AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn women’s tennis assistant coach Pete Francis has been promoted to associate head coach, head coach Jordan Szabo announced Thursday. Francis will enter his third season with the program in 2026-27.
“We are so excited to promote Pete Francis to associate head coach,” Szabo said. “Pete exemplifies everything you look for in a coach at the collegiate level and is passionate about helping players improve their games. We are fortunate to have a coach with extensive experience in both professional and collegiate tennis, which offers a valuable perspective. Pete also makes an impact on the lives of our players, and our program is much stronger because of his contributions.”
During Francis’ first season on staff in 2025, Auburn reached the NCAA Super Regionals and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation. In 2026, the Tigers delivered the best season in program history, which included the program’s first SEC regular-season title and first SEC Tournament championship. Auburn finished the season as NCAA runner-up, the deepest postseason run in program history.
Prior to his time on the Plains, Francis made coaching stops at Virginia Tech, Arizona, Georgia State and Georgia Gwinnett. In the professional ranks, Francis coached for Sportime NY, where he trained top international junior players after serving as a travel coach for Coco Vandeweghe.
Francis played college tennis at Embry-Riddle, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American. The Hampshire, England, native and his wife, Cici, reside in Auburn with their two children, Jacob and Ella.