Drake hires an alumnus as men’s tennis coach to fill position
Newly hired head coach Ben Lott played for the Drake men’s tennis team during his time as a student at the University, putting up impressive numbers en route to multiple winning seasons for the team. Photo courtesy of Drake Athletic Communications
Davidson Kozlowski, the former head coach of the Drake men’s tennis team, has taken the head coaching position with Florida Gulf Coast University men’s tennis team.
Kozlowski led the Bulldogs to back-to-back conference wins in the Summit League, thus getting an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. This past spring season, the Bulldogs won the doubles point against the University of North Carolina men’s tennis team.
During both the regular season and the conference season, the Bulldogs achieved ranked wins over a handful of different programs.
Kozlowski had been at Drake for a total of 11 years, in which he led Drake men’s tennis to win several conference tournaments and regular season titles, both in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Summit League.
The Drake men’s tennis team recently welcomed Ben Lott as the new head coach for the program. Prior to accepting the position, Lott was the head tennis professional and junior development coordinator at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.
Before working at the country club, Lott was an assistant coach at Drake, from 2019-2022, and the University of Tulsa for both of their men’s tennis programs. Lott is also a Drake alumnus and competed with the Drake men’s tennis team during his time at the university.
Lott had a very successful career as a Bulldog. He was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and competed in three NCAA Tournaments with Drake.
In 2015, Lott was individually ranked at No. 30 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings.
When asked how he felt about becoming the new head coach, Lott said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to be back coaching at Drake. I am excited to work with the team and to see everything that we accomplish this year.”
Drake men’s tennis players were thrilled when they heard that Lott would be returning to Drake to be their new head coach.
“When I found out that Ben was going to be our head coach, I was excited that a familiar face would be back for us,” redshirt senior Matija Matic said. “He was a great coach when he was our assistant coach, and I’m sure he’ll be a great head coach as well. I am excited for the year ahead with him.”
Junior Olle Sonesson Lidholt also expressed excitement.
“I’m glad Coach Lott decided to come back to Drake. I am looking forward to working hard with him, and I am ready to see what we accomplish this year with him leading us,” Lidholt said.
The Bulldogs will look to compete for more accolades this upcoming season with Lott as their new head coach.
