Women's Tennis
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- dbernstein@sports.uga.edu
Head Coach (2024-Present)
Following two seasons as head coach of the Georgia women’s tennis team, Drake Bernstein has done a tremendous job of maintaining the program culture and standard set by longtime head coach Jeff Wallace. In year two at the helm, Bernstein led Georgia to a 29-3 overall record with a No. 1 ranking finish after capping off the year with a trio of titles, winning the 2025 NCAA Championship (third in program history), the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor title (fifth in program history) and a third-consecutive SEC Tournament title (11th in program history). Georgia also finished 13-2 in conference regular season play, good for second place in the SEC standings. Bernstein’s successful season earned him top coaching honors, winning both 2025 ITA National and Regional Coach of the Year awards as well as 2025 SEC Coach of the Year honors. Bernstein’s coaching led the Bulldogs to a season-long stretch of dominance as they went 13-0 in tournament-style competition between all three title-winning competitions. Georgia also won 19 of 32 matches this season via sweep with five coming in the NCAA Tournament, tying the most dominant tournament run in NCAA history (lost only one team point through six matches, matching Stanford in ‘01, ‘04 and ‘06). Following the program’s NCAA team title in May, Bernstein became the fastest Georgia men’s or women’s tennis head coach to complete win an NCAA, ITA, SEC regular season and SEC tournament title (62 matches coached through two seasons). Bernstein has also proven to produce immediate results, holding an overall head coaching record of 54-8 (62 matches) while posting the best win percentage through a coach’s first 50 matches at the helm in both men’s and women’s program history at 44-6 (0.88).
The 2023-24 season marked a new era in Georgia women’s tennis program history with first-year head coach Drake Bernstein at the helm. Following the retirement of former head coach Jeff Wallace at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Bernstein was named the sixth head coach in program history. In his first year in charge, Bernstein led the Bulldogs to a 25-5 overall record with a 12-1 mark in SEC play, finishing No. 3 nationally while winning both SEC regular season and tournament titles before orchestrating a deep run to end the year as NCAA Finalists. In what was a historical 50th season of Georgia women’s tennis, Bernstein coached the Bulldogs to the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history with 25, while also becoming the first head coach in program history to win both SEC regular season and tournament titles in their first year at the helm. The Bulldogs were dominant throughout the season as they knocked off 10 ranked teams, went an undefeated 7-0 at home and 11-2 on neutral courts while also posting two separate winning streaks of 11 or more victories. Bernstein was named 2024 Co-SEC Coach of the Year as well as Wilson ITA Southeast Regional Coach of the Year, earning his first accolade and the first in 10 seasons since Jeff Wallace won the award in 2014.
Associate Head/Assistant Coach (2013-23)
During his tenure as associate and assistant head coach with the women’s tennis program, Bernstein helped coach the Bulldogs to a 235-52 record over 11 seasons (.818 winning percentage). A key contributor to Georgia coaching staff, the Bulldogs earned 10 consecutive NCAA tournament bids (the 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In this stretch, Georgia captured an ITA National Team Indoors Championship (2019), three SEC Regular Season Championships (2013, 2019, 2021) and three SEC Tournament titles (2014, 2021, 2023) with a final ITA national team ranking inside the top five six times.
Behind Coach Wallace, Bernstein played an integral part in the development of 35 All-SEC honorees, 18 Individual All-Americans, 34 Total All-American Honors, 36 ITA Scholar-Athletes, three SEC Freshman of the Year selections, two SEC Players of the Year, and one National Player of the Year. Bernstein also served as lead recruiter, traveling globally to various Grand Slam tournaments and securing some of the world’s top tennis student-athletes.
The 2023 campaign saw the Bulldogs finish with a record of 26-5 and a final ITA ranking of No. 2 nationally. Georgia advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships, the finals of the ITA National Team Indoors and won the SEC Tournament. Bernstein’s efforts contributed to four All-SEC honorees, one regional senior of the year, one regional freshman of the year and two All-American honorees.
In 2022, Georgia finished the season with an overall record of 19-7 including a 10-3 clip in SEC play. The Bulldogs went on to reach the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 before capping off the season with a final ITA Ranking of No. 12.
Georgia produced a successful 2021 season, going 23-2 overall before finishing the campaign at No. 3 in the final ITA rankings. The Bulldogs made a quarterfinal appearance at the NCAA Championships after dominating the SEC slate, going a perfect 13-0 to claim the regular season crown before earning three sweeps in route to the SEC Tournament title. A trio of players earned a total of four All-America honors including senior Katarina Jokic, who was a finalist for the Honda Award. Additionally, the team finished with the highest Grade Point Average of any Georgia women’s sport for the spring semester of 2021 with a 3.57 mark. Following the season, Bernstein earned his fourth ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award.
In 2020, the Georgia was on its way to another successful season, reaching as high as No. 2 in the ITA Rankings before the spring season was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Bulldogs qualified for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Chicago, Ill. while also opening conference play undefeated.
The 2019 season saw one of Georgia’s most successful team in program history. The Bulldogs captured their fourth ITA National Team Indoor Championship after defeating the reigning champions North Carolina before securing a SEC regular season title after a perfect 13-0 conference slate. The team fell just short of an NCAA title in May, falling in the national title match as the Bulldogs finished the season with a No. 2 overall ranking. Following a dominant run, Katarina earned the program’s second National Player of the Year award, following Angela Lettiere in 1994.
In 2018, the Bulldogs finished 18-7 highlighted by an elite eight appearance and a No. 7 ITA final ranking. Bernstein’s coaching efforts earned him his third ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award.
In 2017, the Bulldogs earned a 19-6 record with an 11-2 SEC mark, good for second in the SEC. Georgia notched a run to the ITA Indoor semifinals while also finishing the year ranked No. 6 following an NCAA round of 16 appearance.
In 2016, Bernstein helped lead Georgia to its fourth-consecutive 20+ win season since arriving in Athens as the Bulldogs capped off the year 22-5 overall. The team finished the season ranked No. 7 after reaching the ITA Indoor semifinals, SEC Tournament final and NCAA quarterfinals.
Bernstein helped lead a youthful Georgia squad in 2015 to a 24-7 record and the program’s 11th trip to the NCAA Final Four. The Bulldogs sported a roster with five freshmen and only three upperclassmen, putting up an impressive record after reaching the ITA Indoor final, SEC Tournament final and NCAA semifinal for the program’s deepest run since 2009. This success earned Bernstein his second ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award before being elevated to Associate Head Coach entering the 2016 season.
In 2014, the Bulldogs enjoyed another banner season as they went 24-5 with a final ITA ranking of No. 4 nationally. Georgia captured the SEC Tournament crown as well the NCAA Tournament No. 1 overall seed for the first time in school history before reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals. Bernstein’s assistance also helped lead the Bulldogs’ top duo of Lauren Herring and Maho Kowase all the way to the NCAA Doubles Championships Final. Georgia’s successful campaign came in Bernstein’s second season on staff, earning him his first ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award of his career.
In his first season as assistant coach with the Bulldogs in 2013, Bernstein provided an immediate impact on staff, helping the Bulldogs produce a 24-4 overall mark highlighted by an SEC regular season championship. Georgia reached the SEC Tournament final before finishing the year ranked No. 5 nationally after a run to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Alabama Assistant Head Coach (2012)
Before returning to Georgia to continue his coaching career, Bernstein spent one season in Tuscaloosa as an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide’s women’s tennis team. Alabama finished the season No. 11 in the final ITA team rankings, marking its highest final ranking in program history. The Crimson Tide posted an 18-5 record in route to claiming the SEC Western Division with a 10-1 league mark while playing host to an NCAA Regional for the first time in school history.
Playing Career (2008-11)
Bernstein graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2011 with a degree in sport management. He compiled a career record of 112-44 in singles and 84-56 in doubles and is one of only 14 players in Bulldog history to win over 100 career singles matches. As a senior, he earned All-SEC Second Team honors and was the recipient of the Dick Copas Leadership Award while serving as a team captain. Following graduation, Bernstein spent time playing professional tennis. He reached the doubles quarterfinals of the BB&T Atlanta Open ATP 250 event including a win over the top seed and No. 12 ranked duo in the world in Rajeev Ram and Scott Lipsky.
The Georgia men’s tennis team reached the NCAA semifinals in three of Bernstein’s four seasons in Athens including an NCAA Championship run in 2008 in his freshman year. Bernstein enjoyed a stellar prep career at Winder-Barrow High School, registering an 82-1 record that included 79 consecutive victories. He was named the 2007 Athens Banner-Herald Boys Tennis Player of the Year and was a three-time Athens Banner-Herald All-Northeast Georgia selection. He helped Winder-Barrow to its first state tournament appearance in 2006 and again in 2007.
Personal Life
Bernstein is married to the former Cassidy McComb of Henderson, Nev. She was a four-time All-American and member of Georgia’s 2008 and 2009 national championship gymnastics teams. A 2011 UGA graduate, McComb was named the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year and the 2011 SEC All-Around champion. They have three children, Brody and Cashton and Beckham.
| Drake Bernstein Career Coaching Record | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | ROLE | OVERALL | PCT. | SEC | PCT. | FINAL ITA | ITA INDOOR | SEC REG. | SEC TOURN. | NCAA TOURN. |
| 2012 | Assistant Coach (Alabama) | 18-5 | .782 | 10-1 | .909 | No. 11 | Did not qualify | 2nd-place | Semifinalists | Regional 2nd Round |
| 2013 | Assistant Coach | 24-4 | .857 | 12-1 | .923 | No. 5 | Semifinalists | Champions | Finalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 2014 | Assistant Coach | 24-5 | .827 | 11-2 | .846 | No. 4 | Quarterfinalists | 3rd-place | Champions | Quarterfinalists |
| 2015 | Assistant Coach | 24-7 | .774 | 11-2 | .846 | No. 5 | Finalists | 2nd-place | Finalists | Semifinalists |
| 2016 | Associate Coach | 22-5 | .815 | 11-2 | .846 | No. 7 | Semifinalists | 3rd-place | Finalists | Round of 16 |
| 2017 | Associate Coach | 19-6 | .760 | 11-2 | .846 | No. 6 | Semifinalists | 2nd-place | Quarterfinalists | Round of 16 |
| 2018 | Associate Coach | 18-7 | .600 | 10-3 | .769 | No. 7 | Quarterfinalists | 4th-place | Quarterfinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 2019 | Associate Coach | 28-2 | .933 | 13-0 | 1.000 | No. 2 | Champions | Champions | Finalists | Finalists |
| 2020 | Associate Coach | 8-2 | .800 | 3-0 | 1.000 | N/A | Quarterfinalists | Canceled | Canceled | Canceled |
| 2021 | Associate Coach | 23-2 | .920 | 13-0 | 1.000 | No. 3 | No Tournament | Champions | Champions | Quarterfinalists |
| 2022 | Associate Coach | 19-7 | .730 | 10-3 | .769 | No. 12 | Quarterfinalists | 3rd-place | Finalists | Round of 16 |
| 2023 | Associate Coach | 26-5 | .839 | 12-1 | .923 | No. 2 | Finalists | 2nd-place | Champions | Semifinalists |
| 2024 | Head Coach | 25-5 | .833 | 12-1 | .923 | No. 3 | First Round | 1st-place | Champion | Finalists |
| 2025 | Head Coach | 29-3 | .906 | 13-2 | .866 | No. 1 | Champion | 2nd-place | Champion | Champion |
| TOTAL | Assistant Coach (Alabama) | 18-5 | .782 | 10-1 | .909 | |||||
| TOTAL | Assistant Coach (Georgia) | 72-16 | .818 | 34-5 | .871 | |||||
| TOTAL | Associate Coach | 163-36 | .819 | 83-11 | .882 | |||||
| TOTAL | Head Coach | 54-8 | .870 | 25-3 | .892 | |||||
Bernstein's Championship Teams and Coaching Awards
Head Coach (2024-Present)
• 1x ITA National Coach of the Year (2025)
• 2x ITA Southeast Regional Coach of the Year (2024, 2025)
• 2x SEC Coach of the Year (2024, 2025)
• 1x NCAA Champion (2025)
• 1x ITA National Team Indoor Champion (2025)
• 2x SEC Tournament Champion (2024, 2025)
• 1x SEC Regular Season Champion (2024)
Associate Head/Assistant Coach (2013-23)
• 1x ITA National Team Indoor Champion (2019)
• 4x ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018, 2021)
• 3x SEC Tournament Champion (2014, 2021, 2023)
• 3x SEC Regular Season Champion (2013, 2019, 2021)
Bernstein's Playing Career At Georgia (2008-11)
• 2008 /// Team went 27-3 (11-2 SEC Champions) /// NCAA Champions /// Final ITA Ranking #1
• 2009 /// Team went 24-4 (11-2 SEC) /// NCAA Quarterfinals /// Final ITA Ranking #6
• 2010 /// Team went 21-8 (8-2 SEC) /// NCAA Semifinals /// Final ITA Ranking #11
• 2011 /// Team went 24-6 (10-1, SEC Co-Champions) /// NCAA Semifinals /// Final ITA Ranking #5
