Austin Hale follows dad’s footsteps, brings passion as a college tennis coach
In celebration of National Coach Appreciation Month taking place this October, USTA Missouri is highlighting Austin Hale.
Family holiday dinners at the Hale house in Kansas City ought to be fun this year. Kendell Hale, the women’s tennis head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, will probably host the family, including his son, Austin Hale, who is the women’s tennis head coach at Missouri State University.
Austin is trying to defeat his dad’s team for the first time. His Lady Bears lost last season, Austin’s first year in Springfield, Missouri. He lost the previous season when he was the men’s and women’s head coach at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
“That was an NAIA school versus a Division-I school,” Austin said. “So obviously we got killed there. We played a four-and-a-half-hour match last year. We both had lots of injuries. He came out with the win.
“We play again this year, so this will be our third chance. It will be one of those matches that could go either way. I’m really confident in my team this year. I think we’ve got an awesome, excellent team and good team culture. I know he’s talked good things about his team, so it will probably be another four-and-a-half-hour match.”
Competitiveness is something Austin shares with his father, who was inducted into the USTA Heart of America Hall of Fame last year and has coached tennis collegiately for 31 years.
“We have a trophy (called the Hale Trophy) for whoever wins that match,” Austin said. “If I win, I will definitely bring it to the next family gathering.
"I think I would handle losing probably better than he would. We have a great relationship, so it probably wouldn’t be too bad.”
From Court to Career
Austin grew up around tennis because of Kendell, and now he shares the same career path.
“When I got out of college, I didn’t really have a plan to go right into college coaching,” Austin said. “But I just really missed the college tennis atmosphere.”
Austin Hale is in the midst of his second season as head coach of the Missouri State University women's tennis team.
Austin Hale previously worked as head coach at the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and as an assistant/volunteer coach at other colleges.
Austin Hale looks forward to again coaching against his dad, Kendell Hale, a Hall of Fame coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
- Austin Hale is in the midst of his second season as head coach of the Missouri State University women's tennis team.
- Austin Hale previously worked as head coach at the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and as an assistant/volunteer coach at other colleges.
- Austin Hale looks forward to again coaching against his dad, Kendell Hale, a Hall of Fame coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
So, after taking a couple of assistant coaching positions, including one as a volunteer assistant under his father at UMKC, he accepted the position at Saint Mary. He said the similarities between his coaching style and that of his father’s far outweigh the differences.
“We have very similar coaching styles,” Austin said. “We’re both very relational coaches. We’re not going to scream in our players’ faces, especially since we both coach women’s teams. That would not go over well. Some players are looking for that, but that’s just not us.”
Faith & Family
Austin played college tennis at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, another NAIA school. He described himself as “not an incredible player.” But he also described college as “one of the most impactful times in my life.”
“It’s where I found my faith,” he said. “It’s where I found what I wanted to do in life, and why I do the things I do. I just want to have an impact on college players. It’s a really pivotal time in their lives. They’re getting away from their families. How can I help them be the best tennis player they can be and the best person they can be.”
Austin credited that attitude to watching his father through the years.
“My dad definitely had a huge impact on me,” he said. “Growing up, I got to see him having such a big influence on his players. It was easy to see his passion. I became passionate about using tennis to have an impact on the next generation.”
Austin’s competitiveness didn’t prevent him from saying his dad is better at coaching. Sort of.
“He’s had way more experience than I have,” Austin said. “I’ve learned so much from him. He’s won a lot of conference championships, and he’s in the Hall of Fame. So, I definitely admire everything he’s done.”
That won’t keep him from showing off the Hale Trophy should he win it.
Check out additional Coach Appreciation Month feature stories from across USTA Missouri Valley by clicking here. Learn more about USTA Coaching by clicking here.
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