Ann Koger (born 1950) is an American former tennis player and coach. An African-American tennis pioneer, she was the coach of Haverford College's women's tennis team from 1981 to 2016.
| Born | 1950 (age 73–74) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Turned pro | 1973 |
| Retired | 1977 |
| College | Morgan State |
Life and career
editBorn in Baltimore in 1950, Koger took up tennis at age seven or eight.[1] As a young player, she faced racial segregation on the courts of Druid Hill Park in Baltimore.[2] She was the first African American to win the Maryland State Tennis Championships.[2] In 1968, she won the American Tennis Association (ATA)'s National Women's Doubles Championship.[3] In college, she was a multi-sport athlete, including a member of Morgan State's men's tennis team from 1969 to 1972.[3][4] She was one of the first African Americans to play on the Virginia Slims Circuit (the precursor of the WTA Tour), where she played from 1973 to 1977.[3][5]
Koger was hired to coach Haverford's women's tennis team in 1981.[3] The program won multiple conference championships during her tenure.[6][7] In 2016, she retired after 35 years in the position.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Interview with Ann Koger" (PDF). UCLA. June 19, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Carter, Aaron (April 13, 2012). "Ann Koger, One of Maryland's Tennis Pioneers". Capital News Service. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Player, Coach, Volunteer: The Inspiring Career of Ann Koger". USTA. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Cassie, Ron (February 2022). "Baltimore's Ann Koger Smashed Tennis Barriers". Baltimore. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Women's History Month: Exclusive Conversation With Ann Koger - The Life Experience Of An African-American Woman Who Would Not Be Denied". Black Tennis Hall of Fame. March 23, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Hunt, Donald (August 12, 2016). "Haverford College women's head tennis coach Ann Koger retires after 35 seasons". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Ann Koger Announces Retirement at Haverford". Haverford College. August 4, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2023.