David Vest

Biography

David Vest enters his 19th season as head coach of the Samford women's tennis program in 2025-26. He was named to the position Aug. 2, 2007, and has led the Bulldogs to a pair of conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He has compiled an overall record of 239-164. Vest has garnered seven Coach of the Year accolades, including being named the 2018 and 2015 Southern Conference Coach of the Year and the 2014 Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Southern Region Coach of the Year. Prior to Samford, Vest served as assistant head women's coach at the University of Kentucky for two seasons, helping coach a team ranked as high as No. 13 nationally and producing All-Americans. He was also head men's and women's tennis coach at Morehead State for four seasons, earning OVC Coach of the Year honors in 2002 and 2005. Vest was a four-year letterwinner at Morehead State, serving as team captain and No. 1 singles and doubles player as a junior and senior. He graduated with a degree in government and history in 1999. In high school, he was a four-time team MVP at Morgan County Central High School in West Liberty, Kentucky, and was named first-team All-State in his junior and senior seasons.