Nelson Emery enters his 28th year directing the Ventura College men’s tennis team in 2024. During his tenure, he has built the Pirates into a conference and state power with 19 Western State Conference championships, four CCCAA State Championship appearances and two CCCAA State titles.  He has posted an overall dual match record of 370-89, an .806 winning percentage, with a 212-20 WSC mark (.914). Additionally, he had coached numerous student athletes to high levels of success at the conference, Ojai, and state levels.

The highlights of Emery’s time with VC include a pair of state championships, both undefeated seasons. His 2008 team posted a 24-0 mark en route to the program’s first state title, and two years later, VC went 18-0, claiming their second crown in three years.

Coach Emery is also entering his 15th season directing the Pirates’ women’s program, a tenure that includes the 2012 WSC title.

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, as a student 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.