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Sun Devil Women’s Tennis hosts NCAA Regional behind Coach Chavatipon’s unlikely path

Assistant Coach Charlotte Chavatipon almost chose a different life. Now she’s helping lead a historic season for Sun Devil Women’s Tennis as Big 12 champions and NCAA Regional hosts.

Sun Devil Women’s Tennis hosts NCAA Regional behind Coach Chavatipon’s unlikely pathSun Devil Women’s Tennis hosts NCAA Regional behind Coach Chavatipon’s unlikely path
Sun Devil Athletics
by Meredith Cunningham

Coach Charlotte Chavatipon (chuh-VAT-eh-pon) wants everyone to get tickets and be at Whiteman Tennis Center, cheering as loudly as they can this Friday as the Sun Devils host the NCAA Regional.

“It’s not the same as if you’re watching pro tennis,” she said. “College tennis is different in the sense that you can cheer, you can be loud. We want you to come out there and show your support as if you’re watching a volleyball game.” 

“We want the ref to be like ’hey, tell your crowd to be a little bit quieter.’” 

Chavatipon’s hype is warranted. 

The Sun Devil Women’s Tennis team put together a historic 19-5 season, earning a share of the Big 12 regular season title, the program’s first conference championship, while collecting its most wins since 2001. They also posted 11 conference victories, the highest total since it became an NCAA-sanctioned sport in 1982.

Not bad for someone in her first season and a half on staff.

To think, if life had gone according to plan, Chavatipon wouldn’t be in Tempe right now.

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The coach who almost wasn’t
Upon graduating from the University of Texas in 2024, where she helped the Longhorns win two national championships in 2021 and 2022, the plan was to head to the University of Miami and begin the physical therapy program. 

But the game she’s played since she was three years old led her elsewhere.

"College coaching was honestly something I wanted to try,” she admitted. “It was more selfish because I had nothing to do, and I wanted to travel,” she explained.

“I wanted to try it out more for fun rather than looking into it as a career.”

She made the call to coaches from her teen years, Sun Devil Head Coach Jamea Jackson and then-Assistant Coach Erik Kortland. She asked if they would be interested in having her as a volunteer until the time came to go to Miami.  

“I said I’ll be more than happy to help out, I’m down to work, and I’ll give you 100 percent."

Chavatipon was officially added to the Sun Devils staff as a volunteer coach in February of 2025. Miami was then taken off the table when Jackson promoted her to assistant coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

"It worked out for everybody. Ultimately, I lost $1,000 on my deposit, but I haven’t looked back since.”

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Enjoying the ride
Since arriving in Tempe, Chavatipon has been quick to make her mark on the women’s tennis program, both in the record book and within the team’s culture.

"When I was playing on the court, I was representing more than myself. But now I’m not putting any points on the board, so coaching feels like a different type of reward,” she noted. 

"It’s rewarding in the sense that I see the girls achieving their goals, and I feel proud of them. It’s just great to see them trust me, trust the coaching staff and see that they’ve really bought in. To see their success is what brings me excitement."

With her playing days behind her, the team’s success is what matters most. This weekend, her playing experience will be key.

As a member of the Longhorns, Chavatipon and former teammate and current Sun Devil Vivian Ovrootsky, the NCAA Tournament is “just another day at the office.” That’s because Texas hosted each of Chavatipon’s four years. 

"For Viv and me, we kind of know how to operate through this excitement. The challenge for them is putting the excitement we have to good use,” she said. 

"Yes, we’re hosting. But that guarantees us nothing other than the fact that we get to play in front of our own home crowd and sleep in our own bed. We still have to put in the work. We have to keep doing our thing."

Women's Tennis Big 12 Championship trophy

Onward to victory
With the NCAA Regional set to begin in Tempe, the opportunity in front of the Sun Devils is as big as any in recent program history, but Chavatipon’s message to her team hasn’t changed.

"Consistency, determination, grit, and showing up every day are the secrets to success in anything,” she shared. 

“Whether we win or lose, as long as we put in the work and do our best, we'll know we did the right thing.”

Now, with a home crowd behind them and a season already etched in the record books, the Sun Devils have a chance to take the next step.

For a coach who wasn’t even sure she’d be here a year ago, it’s just another opportunity to keep doing what she’s learned all along: Show up, give everything, and see where it leads.