Axel Damiens Hired as Associate Head Coach of Gators Women’s Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators Women’s Tennis Head Coach Per Nilsson has announced the hiring of Axel Damiens as UF’s newest Associate Head Coach. Damiens joins the Gators from the University of South Carolina and is set to bring a dynamic coaching presence with proven success across collegiate tennis programs.
“We’re excited to welcome Axel to Gainesville,” said Nilsson. “His experience at the highest levels of college tennis and his ability to connect with and develop student-athletes make him an incredible addition to our program.”
Damiens served as the Associate Head Coach for the Gamecocks this past season and was originally hired in July of 2022 as an assistant coach. While at South Carolina, Damiens helped the Gamecocks to three winning seasons and three consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.
Before his time at South Carolina, Damiens served as Assistant Coach for the University of Pennsylvania women’s tennis team in spring 2022. During his time in Philadelphia, he helped lead the Quakers to a 15-9 record, including a 5-2 Ivy League finish that featured a four-match win streak in conference play.
His coaching journey has also included roles at Florida State as a graduate assistant, where he contributed to bringing in a top-ranked recruiting class and coached the highest UTR-ranked player in college tennis at the time.
Damiens also spent time as a volunteer assistant coach with the Princeton men’s tennis program in 2019-20. The Tigers compiled a 14-4 record that season, highlighted by wins over Auburn, Arizona, and Penn before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A former standout student-athlete himself, Damiens competed for Cal Poly from 2014–18 and served as a student assistant coach during the 2018–19 season. He recorded 50 career singles wins—one of just five Mustangs to reach that milestone—and earned All-Big West Doubles First Team honors as a senior. His leadership helped propel Cal Poly to as high as No. 33 in the ITA national rankings.
Originally from Feucherolles, France, Damiens also has professional playing experience on the ITF circuit and in France’s pro league.
Damiens comments, “working alongside Per is a dream come true. He is an incredible leader for the program, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a Florida Gator. This program has been a national powerhouse for decades, and I am looking forward to giving it my all to bring more National Championships back to Gainesville.”
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“We’re excited to welcome Axel to Gainesville,” said Nilsson. “His experience at the highest levels of college tennis and his ability to connect with and develop student-athletes make him an incredible addition to our program.”
Damiens served as the Associate Head Coach for the Gamecocks this past season and was originally hired in July of 2022 as an assistant coach. While at South Carolina, Damiens helped the Gamecocks to three winning seasons and three consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.
Before his time at South Carolina, Damiens served as Assistant Coach for the University of Pennsylvania women’s tennis team in spring 2022. During his time in Philadelphia, he helped lead the Quakers to a 15-9 record, including a 5-2 Ivy League finish that featured a four-match win streak in conference play.
His coaching journey has also included roles at Florida State as a graduate assistant, where he contributed to bringing in a top-ranked recruiting class and coached the highest UTR-ranked player in college tennis at the time.
Damiens also spent time as a volunteer assistant coach with the Princeton men’s tennis program in 2019-20. The Tigers compiled a 14-4 record that season, highlighted by wins over Auburn, Arizona, and Penn before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A former standout student-athlete himself, Damiens competed for Cal Poly from 2014–18 and served as a student assistant coach during the 2018–19 season. He recorded 50 career singles wins—one of just five Mustangs to reach that milestone—and earned All-Big West Doubles First Team honors as a senior. His leadership helped propel Cal Poly to as high as No. 33 in the ITA national rankings.
Originally from Feucherolles, France, Damiens also has professional playing experience on the ITF circuit and in France’s pro league.
Damiens comments, “working alongside Per is a dream come true. He is an incredible leader for the program, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a Florida Gator. This program has been a national powerhouse for decades, and I am looking forward to giving it my all to bring more National Championships back to Gainesville.”
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: X | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
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