Browning, who had been head coach at two other NCAA Division III institutions, was appointed the head coach at Emory University in the summer of 1999. In each his 20 seasons at Emory, Browning's teams have advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals while finishing in the top-five in the national rankings on 18 occasions. During his tenure at Emory, the school has advanced to semifinals of the national championships on 14 occasions.
The 2018-19 season saw Browning direct the Eagles to their fifth-ever national title, defeating No. 1-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 5-3, in the finals and ending the year with an overall record of 22-2. Emory closed the campaign with 18 straight wins.
During the 2016-17 season, Browning oversaw called the shots to the school's fourth national crown, with the Eagles prevailing over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the championship showdown. The 5-2 triumph over the Stags allowed the Eagles to finish with a 22-4 ledger.
Prior to the 2017 national championship, the 2012 squad played its way to a first-place finish at nationals, with the Eagles recording the first undefeated dual-meet season in school history, finishing with a 25-0 slate. His first national title at Emory came in 2003, with his second coming in 2006.
Following the 2008-09 season, his teams had advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA D-III Championships for eight straight years. Emory finished as national runners-up in 2007 and 2008 and claimed third place in 2009. During the 2010-11 campaign, the Eagles finished runner-up at the national championships.
Browning has coached four NCAA Division III singles champions with Michael Goodwin becoming the first player in school history to earn that distinction when he took home first place in 2009. In 2011, Chris Goodwin, Michael's younger brother, claimed the title after defeating teammate Dillon Pottish in the championship encounter. In 2012, Pottish bounced back to claim the singles crown, topping Nick Ballou of Cal Lutheran in a three-set battle. Jonathan Jemison joined that exclusive club in 2019, topping Leo Vithoontien of Carleton College, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, in the finals. In 2013, the tandem and Ian Wagner and Elliot Kahler became the frst Emory doubles team ever to win the NCAA title.
In addition, Browning-coached Emory teams have claimed 16 conference championships.
During his distinguished stint at Emory, he has guided the program to 10 seasons of 20 or more wins while fashioning an impressive mark of 401-96 (.806).
Browning and his assistants have been honored 10 times as the conference Coaching Staff of the Year by the University Athletic Association, most recently in 2017. In addition, he has been tabbed the ITA as the Atlantic South Region Coach of the Year on four occasions, in 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
For five years prior to Emory, Browning was the men's and women's tennis head coach at Salisbury State University (Md.). Before that, he spent three years as the head men's tennis coach at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) and one year as an assistant men's tennis coach at University of California-Santa Cruz.
His overall career coaching record for men and women combined is 537-167 (.762) over 28 years. He registered his 500th win on Feb. 24, 2018, when the Eagles battled to a 5-4 verdict over the University of Chicago in the semifinals of the ITA National Indoor Championships.
His 200th win came in the finals of the conference championship, a 5-2 win against Washington (Mo.), on April 27, 2003, while his 300th triumph took place on March 15, 2008, when the Eagles won at Hawaii-Hilo, 5-2.
Browning is a 1990 graduate of California-Santa Cruz where he received his bachelor's degree. He completed his master's degree at Azusa Pacific University in 1994.
Browning assisted with the development of Emory's recreational outdoor tennis complex that debuted in Spring 2003. In addition, he is the co-chair of the ITA National Ranking Committee and is a member of the Division III Tennis Committee.
Tennis Tips by John Browning:
