Brett Bridel Hired as New Tennis Head Coach
Marshall, Mo., (Jan. 8, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College Athletic Department announces the hiring of Brett Bridel as new Head Coach for the men's and women's tennis programs.
Bridel is a longtime coaching veteran, coaching tennis across multiple collegiate levels. Most recently, Bridel spent one season leading the men's and women's tennis programs at NJCAA Seward County (Kan.), guiding a women's player to an individual National championship at the NJCAA Women's National Tournament.
Prior to his time at Seward County, Bridel spent more than a decade at NCAA Division II Lewis (Ill.) as head coach of the men's and women's tennis programs, from 2007 through 2020. During that time, Bridel won two Great Lakes Valley Conference women's championships (2012 and 2016), and guided both men's and women's programs to multiple NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances. The women's team made five National tournament appearances (2012-14, 2016, 2017), advancing to the round of 16 twice, and the men's team played in six National tournaments (2010, 2012, 2015-16, 2018-19). Bridel was also named the GLVC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year four times (2012-14, 2016), and the ITA Midwest Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2012. Additionally, his programs earned a combined 22 ITA All-Academic Team awards, produced a combined 112 ITA Scholar Athletes and a combined five Capital One Academic All-Americans.
"Brett has a wealth of experience and he always puts students first," said Interim Athletic Director Scott Queen. "He clearly knows how to develop talent, and he's a good recruiter. I'm excited to watch the program compete this season."
Additionally, Bridel built the men's and women's tennis programs at DuPage (Ill.), leading the men's team to back-to-back NJCAA National championship in 2003 and 2004, and the women's team to a National runner-up finish in 2004. Bridel was also named the NJCAA Men's Tennis Coach of the Year and NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year during his time at DuPage. Additionally, Bridel spent two seasons coaching the women's tennis team at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois in 2004 and 2005.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Missouri Valley College family and extremely excited to get started," said Bridel. "I wish to thank Dr. Parisi, Scott Queen, and the hiring committee for allowing me to do what I love and have great passion for by leading these outstanding student-athletes and helping them develop life skills through the sport of tennis, which they can use throughout their loves. It is a great day to be a Viking."
Other head coaching stops for Bridel include producing an individual NJCAA women's tennis National champion in 2024 at Seward County (Kan.), and two seasons leading the Point (Ga.) tennis programs. Bridel will take over the heading coaching duties at Missouri Valley from Interim Head Coach Liam Kahmeyer, who led the programs during the fall competition season. Kahmeyer will stay on staff as an assistant going into the spring competition season.
About Missouri Valley College
Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.