Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Dave Paschal became Embry-Riddle University’s third head men’s tennis coach and second head women’s tennis coach in the history of the two storied programs in August 2004. Heading into his 20th season with the Blue and Gold, Paschal is the most successful coach in both men’s and women’s tennis at ERAU, having amassed over 200 wins with each program.
 
Paschal built both tennis programs into perennial NAIA powerhouses prior to ERAU Athletics' transition to NCAA II in 2017-18. The men’s team captured 11 consecutive Sun Conference crowns posting a perfect 63-0 record in conference matches and going 86-0 against Sun Conference opponents in regular season, regional and national tournament play. The women won the conference title in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and finished second in the league 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015. Prior to the regional realignment by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, both teams won consecutive regional titles - the men in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the women in 2005 and 2006. Both teams earned berths in the NAIA National Tournament in Mobile, Ala. with men going in 11 consecutive seasons and the women going 10 times.
 
After reaching the semifinals of national tournament team competition for seven consecutive seasons, the Embry-Riddle men’s team reached the pinnacle of NAIA competition in 2013, taking home the NAIA national title. Playing in one of the most exciting championship matches in national tournament history, the Eagles downed Auburn Montgomery 5-4, to bring the team title back to Daytona Beach.

The Eagles were not eligible for postseason play during the two-year transition to full NCAA II membership
 
In the next two seasons, Paschal’s men’s squad continued to dominate against NAIA competition, posting identical 21-4 records in 2014 and 2015, and playing in the national championship match in each of those two seasons.
 
In 2012, Paschal led the women to first national title match. After going undefeated in league play, the Eagles won the conference tournament title and went into the NAIA National Tournament as the No. 3 team in the country. That rating gave the Eagles a first-round bye after which they registered back-to-back shutouts to secure the program’s second semifinal berth. The Blue and Gold drew No. 2 Fresno Pacific in the semifinal round and earned a dramatic 5-3 win over the Lady Sunbirds to advance to the national championship match for the first time in program history.
 
The 2014 women’s team swept through conference regular season and tournament play with another undefeated league campaign and earned the No. 5 seed in the national tournament field. The Eagles upset defending national champion Auburn Montgomery and toppled top-seed Xavier (La.) to return to the title match where they lost a hard-fought 5-4 battle to Georgia Gwinnett.
 
In 2016, the Eagles’ first season of provisional membership in NCAA II, Paschal’s men’s squad turned in a 12-3 overall record, downing the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 10-ranked teams along the way. The men were ranked eighth in the final ITA/NCAA II poll, while the women finished the season ranked No. 44.

The Eagles' first season as full members of the NCAA II and the Sunshine State Conference saw the ERAU men's team capture the 2017 ITA South Region doubles crown and make the program's first NCAA II national tournament appearance. Paschal coached Andres Donayre, who partnered with Rodolfo Arreygue for the 2017 doubles title, to his second consecutive doubles crown in tandem with Juan Ortiz Couder in 2018.
 
Paschal has coached Eagle student-athletes to 13 individual national titles. The ERAU men’s and women’s teams have won a combined six USTA/ITA national doubles titles, while the men’s team has brought seven national singles titles back to Daytona Beach. Additionally, the men's team has won four singles titles and two doubles titles at the ITA Superbowl.
 
Under Paschal’s guidance, the Eagles garnered Sun Conference Men’s Player of the Year honors 10 times and Player of the Year honors on the women’s side six times. In addition, 137 players received either ITA or NAIA All-America recognition and each team has placed at least three student-athletes on their respective All-Conference rosters each of the last 11 seasons.
 
Paschal was named The Sun Conference (formerly the Florida Sun Conference) Coach of the Year 11 times on the men’s side and five times for the women. He also garnered the NAIA’s highest coaching honor in both men’s and women’s tennis as he was named the men’s National Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2013, and the women’s National Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
 
Paschal’s coaching background includes stints as the head men’s tennis coach at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (1995-96) and as assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at NCAA Division III power Washington College (Md.) (1994-95).
 
Paschal also served as the head men’s tennis coach at Drake (Des Moines, Iowa) from 1996-2003 and held the women’s head coaching position from 1998-99. During his time with the Bulldogs, Paschal helped guide his squad to the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference championship four times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001) and qualified for the ITA Region V team championships in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003. He coached 16 All-MVC honorees and his men’s squads garnered ITA National team rankings three times attaining their highest mark of 51st in the nation.
 
In addition to the team’s on-court success, the 1993 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville graduate also brings a coaching style and philosophy, which fosters academic success. He coached 20 Academic All-MVC selections and two Academic All-Americans during his seven-year tenure at Drake and since his arrival at ERAU, 267 individuals have garnered ITA Scholar Athlete, NAIA Scholar Athlete, College Sports Communicators Academic All-America and Academic All-Conference honors, including Kristina Marova who was tabbed as the 2014 CSC College Division At-Large Academic All-American of the Year. Both programs have received team recognition for outstanding work in the class from the NAIA and the ITA, and in 2022-23 women’s team had a cumulative grade point average of 3.731, while the men’s team had a 3.681 team GPA.
 
In the off-season, Paschal directs the highly successful Embry-Riddle Tennis Camps, which provide instruction for aspiring young tennis players.
 
Paschal, his wife Liz reside in Daytona Beach. Their oldest son Noah works for Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas, while their youngest, Luke, is a member of the ERAU men's tennis team.