With a keen ability to relate to his players and an excitable and down-to-earth personality, Dave Shook enters his seventh season as head coach of the Lehigh women’s tennis team. He is also entering his 15^th season as the men’s coach. Shook posted a 61-42 career record as women’s coach from 1990-93 and 2001-03 and compiled a 164-112 record in his 14 seasons as the men’s coach. Shook currently holds the most coaching victories in Lehigh tennis history.

During his first four years, Lehigh finished with an overall record of 31-21 and above the .500 mark three times. He also coached six All-Patriot League members, including Kristi Kungl, a two-time member, and first singles champion, Lauren Kosakowski, Jen Mrozek, Carrie Zegarski and Rachel Samson.

During his second tenure as coach of the women’s team, Shook has already posted an equally impressive 30-21 overall record, which incorporated three more seasons of winning records, including an 11-7 overall record this past year. In addition, last season, Shook coached junior transfer Kristen Nowicki, arguably the best female player in the league, to an impressive 16-1 singles record which led her to be named to the All-Patriot League First Team.

“Coaching at Lehigh has been a very rewarding experience for me,” Shook says. “I have had the opportunity to work with tremendously talented student-athletes and have formed great friendships with many of them. I look forward to expanding that those friendships and experiences with the women’s team this year.”

In 1991 Shook traveled to the Chinese Cultural University in Taipei, Taiwan to prepare their men’s and women’s teams for the Republic of China’s national championship tournament. The tournament is a major event in the Republic of China and is equated to the NCAA Tournament in the United States.

Prior to his arrival at Lehigh, Shook served as head tennis coach at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for four years (1986-90) where he amassed a 53-11 record. He also coached high school tennis at Salisbury High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania for three years (1987-90) where he led the Falcons to a sparkling 29-3 slate, which included a Colonial League championship in 1987.

Shook’s path to the sport actually didn’t begin until he finished college.

“I never intended to play tennis,” he says. “I didn’t play in high school or college. Actually I taught myself when I was 23 years old and then I started to play tournaments and was successful at it so I continued to play.”

Although he never played tennis competitively in high school or college, Shook was a very successful athlete at each level. Shook earned All East-Penn Conference honors as a senior in high school playing defensive end for the Easton, Pennsylvania High School football team. That team finished 10-0 and ranked first in the state. Shook continued his football career at the next level by playing cornerback at Parsons College in Iowa his freshman year. Shook then entered the Coast Guard for four years before finishing his collegiate career at Alvernia College, where he graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. Shook then earned his master’s in government from Lehigh in 1993.

In addition to his very successful coaching career, Shook has also excelled in a variety of other positions. For many years he has been the head tennis professional at the Silver Creek Country Club in Hellertown, Pennsylvania and continues to coach and facilitate clinics and camps for advanced and ranked junior players. In addition, Shook serves as a volunteer for the Lehigh Women’s Center and also is an avid member of the local ski team.

Shook is also a member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Intercollegiate Tennis Association and serves on the Collegiate Tennis Academy Board of Directors.

Shook served for 21 years as an Intensive Supervising Officer in the Northampton County Probation/Parole Division and for the last five years has been a member of the adjunct faculty, teaching criminal justice courses at DeSales University in Pennsylvania.

Shook and his wife Elaine reside in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with their daughter Alexandra (16).

Lehigh University Athletics

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Drexel Dragon Invite on October 31, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus ITA Conference Masters Championships on November 6, 2025

Completed Event: Women's Tennis versus ITA Patriot League Masters Tournament on October 24, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Women's Tennis at ITA Regionals on October 9, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Women's Tennis versus Lehigh Hidden Duals on September 13, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Women's Tennis at Navy Invite on September 5, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Women's Tennis versus Army on April 26, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 4

Completed Event: Women's Tennis versus Bucknell University on April 25, 2025 , Win , 4, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Tennis at Lafayette College on April 18, 2025 , Win , 5, to, 0

Spring 2004 Women's Tennis Roster

Rachel Samson

Related Videos

Related News