The University of Akron Athletics
Padgett Named Head Women's Tennis Coach
October 13 | Women's Tennis
- Brandon Padgett has been named head women's tennis coach at The University of Akron, Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill announced on Wednesday. Padgett takes the reins of the Zips' program after three-plus seasons at Kennesaw State. He replaces Jeffrey Wyshner, who accepted the women's head coaching position at Wake Forest in late August. Wyshner was at UA for four seasons.
"We are excited to welcome Brandon to the Akron Athletics family," Wistrcill said. "His skill set as a coach and recruiter allowed both the men's and women's programs at Kennesaw State to take major strides forward in a short period of time, and we are confident that he will be able to build on the recent success enjoyed by our team. We also feel Brandon has an approach that will keep us on track as we strive to build one of the top tennis programs in the Midwest."
Padgett will officially begin his duties at Akron on Oct. 19.
"I would like to thank Tom (Wistrcill) and Mary Lu (Gribschaw) (senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator) for this wonderful opportunity," Padgett said. "I am excited about the direction of this program, and the outstanding foundation Jeff (Wyshner) has laid. My goal from the beginning is to win the Mid-American Conference, and to see that Akron Tennis is a mainstay on the national level."
Padgett inherits an Akron program that comes off what was arguably the most successful season in program history in 2009-10, in which it posted a program single-season record for league wins (7-1) and tallied the most overall victories (19-3) since the 1990-91 squad went 26-6. Additionally, the Zips opened the dual-match portion of their season with a 15-match win streak and were the nation's last undefeated Division I squad. UA's impressive start earned it a season-high and program-best national ranking of 63rd by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association during the first week of April.
Padgett was named head coach of the women's team at Kennesaw State, located in Kennesaw, Ga., in March 2007 and in 2008 started up the varsity men's program. He led both teams until February 2010, at which point he was elevated to director of tennis operations, while maintaining the title of women's coach. As director of tennis operations he had oversight of all aspects of both squads, including scheduling, budgeting and fundraising. He also oversaw the construction of the newly refurbished KSU Tennis Complex.
During his tenure at Kennesaw State, the athletics department switched from competing in the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II to its current place in the Atlantic Sun Conference and Division I. During the transitional period, Padgett helped the program remain competitive and scored high marks in terms of recruiting. His women's team finished fifth in the conference in 2009, after placing 11th one season earlier. The jump in the standings came on the heels of signing a recruiting class that ranked as the 22nd best among mid-major programs, according to the ITA. The 2010 women's team finished sixth, and its recruiting class was listed 24th among mid-majors, with only one recruit.
In 2008, he guided the men's program through its first season of existence as a varsity sport, and his fall 2008 recruiting class ranked as the 29th best nationally, behind Ohio State and Indiana. The 2009 class was listed 11th among mid-majors.
Padgett came to Kennesaw State after serving as assistant coach at Dayton during the 2006-07 season, and his coaching resume also includes stints at the high school and Division-III level. He also served as a teaching professional at the Five Season Sports Club in Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to his time in Dayton, he served as the head coach at D-III Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., from 2003-04. From 2001-03, he was the head coach for both men's and women's tennis as well as women's soccer at D-III Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. He also served as the Tennis Camp Director for the Frederick County Parks and Recreation Department while at Shenandoah.
Padgett served as the head coach at Miami (Hamilton) University for one season before heading to the state of Virginia. In his lone year with the Harriers, the team claimed the Ohio Regional Campus Conference title.
His first head coaching position was with his alma mater, Ross High School, in Ross, Ohio. He spent two seasons as the coach of the Rams, leading RHS to a 51-28 record and consecutive runner-up finishes in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.
During his playing career, he was an all-conference performer and doubles champion at Miami (Hamilton) University, where he helped lead his team to the conference championship in both his freshman and sophomore seasons (1994 and '95).
Padgett, 35, received his undergraduate degree in health and sports studies from Miami (Ohio) in 1999 and received a master's degree in physical education from West Virginia in 2001. He and his wife, Jessica, have a four-year-old daughter, Addyson.
