Nelson Emery enters his 16th year directing the Ventura College women’s tennis team in 2024. The Pirates advanced to the Southern California Regional Playoffs in 2023 and Emery led the Pirates to the 2012 Western State Conference title. During his tenure, he has posted an overall dual match record of 111-105-1, a .513 winning percentage, with a 74-73-1 (.503) Western State Conference mark. Additionally, he had coached numerous student athletes to high levels of success at the conference, Ojai, and state levels.

Emery is also in his 28th year directing the VC men's tennis team with an overall dual match record of 370-89 (.806), with a 212-20 WSC mark (.914). His career highlights with the men include 19 Western State Conference championships, four CCCAA State Championship appearances and two CCCAA State titles. 

Emery was an outstanding junior player in his home state of Louisiana, with a pair of high school league championships and a regional title. He reached a ranking of No. 8 in the state. His parents moved to Ventura, and he played in the No. 1 slot for the Pirates and Coach Jim Whalen in 1983 and 1984. Upon his graduation from VC in 1986, Emery transferred to Cal State Bakersfield where he helped lead the Roadrunners to a No. 8 NCAA Division II national ranking in 1987 and a No. 3 ranking in 1988. After college Nelson continued to compete in many local and Southern California Open events before physical ailments took their toll and helped launch a career in teaching and coaching.

In 1989, Emery began teaching tennis full time for the City of Ventura, starting a very successful Junior Team Tennis program. He had many teams win local league titles along with Sectional Championships with many of his students ultimately receiving tennis scholarships to universities around the country.  With a recommendation from coach Whalen, Emery began coaching at St. Bonaventure High School and found his passion in life, coaching tennis.  After five years heading the Seraph’s program and seeking more of a challenge, Emery became the tennis coach at Ventura High School.

Emery joined Coach Whalen as an assistant at Ventura College in 1996 before taking over as the head coach the following season.

Tennis has also been a component of Emery’s family life as he met his future wife Tara when both were students at Ventura College. They have three children, all of whom play tennis.  They have two adult daughters, Caisey Lee and Colbey Shae, and their son Cody Ray is a sophomore on the VC men's tennis team.