February is Black History Month in the United States–a month honoring the achievements, culture and history of Black people and the African diaspora. US Squash and the College Squash Association are celebrating by sharing stories and profiles of squash players and coaches in the U.S. squash community who have created a legacy and inspired others to follow in their footsteps.
By: Lovey Roundtree, College Squash Association
College squash may not yet reflect the full diversity of the junior pipeline, but the impact of a small group of Black coaches has been nothing short of transformational.
This Black History Month, we proudly spotlight Lauren Johnston, Christopher Fernandez, Pat Cosquer, and Nku Patrick. These coaches represent leadership, excellence, and possibility in a sport that has not always reflected the players now rising through its ranks.
Their numbers may be small. Their influence is enormous.
Why Representation Matters
As Squash and Education Alliance programs continue to open doors for young players, representation at the college level becomes essential. When junior athletes step into a squash facility and see coaches who look like them, the sport feels different. It feels more welcoming, more attainable, and more lasting.
College coaches are often the most consistent adult presence in a student athlete’s life. They share daily practices, long road trips, moments of pressure, and moments of growth. A phenomenal coach can change a trajectory. A phenomenal coach who also breaks stereotypes can help change a sport.
Lauren Johnston: Building Belonging
Lauren Johnston picked up a squash racquet at age five and began competing at nine, often as one of the only Black girls in junior tournament spaces. Those early experiences shaped both her competitive drive and her commitment to creating a more inclusive squash community.
A former top ten U.S. junior and standout at Franklin and Marshall College, Johnston helped lead the Diplomats to the highest national ranking in program history. Since 2019, she has served as Assistant Coach at Haverford College, focusing on athlete development, team culture, and long term growth, while also competing on the Squash Doubles Association tour.
With a background in public health, Johnston brings a holistic lens to coaching that prioritizes mental health and wellbeing alongside performance. As a founding board member of the Black Squash Alliance and a former member of the CSA JEDI Coaches Committee, she continues to lead nationally in shaping a more accessible and inclusive future for the sport.
Christopher Fernandez: Global Player, Builder of Programs
Christopher Fernandez’s squash journey began as a sixth grader at CitySquash and evolved into a career defined by leadership, versatility, and global competition. A three sport varsity athlete and two time New England Champion, Fernandez went on to captain both the baseball and squash teams at St. Lawrence University, leading the squash program to a number two national finish.
As a player, he has represented the Dominican Republic at Pan American and Caribbean Championships and continues to compete internationally. As a coach, Fernandez has been a builder everywhere he has gone. From Squash Director at CitySquash to head coach at Dickinson College, where he became the youngest head coach in CSA history, to head coach at Chatham University and now Assistant Coach at Columbia University, his teams consistently earned Most Improved honors.
His success reflects a belief in development, culture, and meeting athletes where they are, then helping them grow beyond what they thought was possible.
Pat Cosquer: Excellence with Purpose
Pat Cosquer’s coaching career stands as a model of sustained excellence and thoughtful program building. From his early work in youth development to more than a decade leading Bates College into national prominence, Cosquer has consistently elevated teams while developing the whole student athlete.
At Bates, he coached All Americans, national champions, and earned multiple NESCAC Coach of the Year honors. He later brought that same vision to Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where both the Statesmen and Herons climbed into the national top twenty, captured conference titles, and earned CSA national trophies. His teams also excelled academically, reflecting leadership that values growth on and off the court.
Nku Patrick: From Junior Dreams to Lifelong Impact
Nku Patrick’s squash journey began at age four and grew through late night family matches, Caribbean Junior Championships, Ivy League rivalries, and national titles. A seven time national junior champion from Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick went on to win two national championships at Trinity College and represent his country at the Pan American and CAC Games.
On May 20, 2025, Patrick was named the inaugural Betty Richey Head Coach for Men’s and Women’s Squash at Vassar College. Prior to this appointment, he led Northeastern’s club team, helping elevate the program while building a strong culture rooted in belief, accountability, and ambition.
Alongside his collegiate work, Patrick has been a coach, mentor, and educator with SquashBusters Boston, introducing squash to students who have never picked up a racquet and supporting them academically and personally. His work helps young players envision higher education and lifelong involvement in the sport.
For Patrick, representation is deeply personal. Coaching athletes who look like him completes the circle from junior dreams to college success to giving back.
Looking Forward
These coaches remind us that impact is not measured by numbers alone. It is measured in lives changed, programs built, doors opened, and futures reimagined.
This Black History Month, we celebrate not only what they have accomplished, but what they continue to make possible for the next generation of squash players, leaders and community members.
Because when players can see themselves leading the team huddle, they can imagine themselves anywhere on the court and beyond.
