Commitment Profile
Countdown: Coffman Chooses Dallas Baptist
by James Hill, 20 October 2015
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Three-star recruit Madeline Coffman is a well-traveled young lady. Coffman played tennis her freshman year of high school in Houston, her sophomore year in Purcellville, Va., and finally, in her current home of Flower Mound, Texas.
However, starting in January, Coffman will have to travel only 30 miles to Dallas, as she plans to become a member of the
Dallas Baptist University women's tennis team. The Patriots compete in both NCAA Division II and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). DBU baseball has made its mark in the NCAA Division I.
Coffman also considered in-state schools St. Edward's University in Austin and Midwestern State University, located in Wichita Falls. In fact, Coffman's older sister, Taylor, is attending Midwestern State and now serves as the assistant women's tennis coach. However, Coffman selected Dallas Baptist as her college tennis home, where she plans to become a pre-med major.
"I chose DBU because I liked the tennis program - and how Coach [Sarah] Gray saw potential in me," Coffman said. "Coach Gray has specific goals for the team, and she will do whatever it takes to improve her team and each player on it. I also like the fact DBU is a Christian school where I can further my faith."
Gray is in her fourth season as the head coach of both the men's and women's tennis teams at Dallas Baptist. The Patriots women's team received an automatic qualifier to the NCCAA National Championships in Mobile, Ala., where DBU advanced to the finals match. Shorter University of Rome, Ga., emerged as the national champ. Dallas Baptist is also a member of the DII Heartland Conference.
Back to Coffman's travels in high school, which turned out to be productive. Coffman played her freshman year at Northland Christian School in Houston, where she finished as singles runner-up at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state tournament. The following year, Coffman competed for Loudon Valley High School in Virginia, after her family moved for her father's job. She was once again a finalist at a state tournament. The family moved back to Texas her junior year, where Coffman is a proud member of the Flower Mound High School Jaguars team.
