Tennis To Return To University of Nebraska Kearney In 2023

Men’s Tennis will return to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Campus for the 2023-2024 season, thanks to an anonymous donor who will help fund the program. The program was cut in 2018, along with men’s golf and baseball as a result of budget cuts. Scott Shafer will coach the men’s team, and is already coaching the women’s team. He recalls finding out the Lopers would once again have men’s tennis.

“I was just so excited for the University and our community because I was in that room in 2018 when they announced men’s tennis, golf and baseball had been cut,” he recalled. “And then I remember the even sadder hour when we sat in an empty restaurant with the men and tried to assure them we would help them find a new home if they didn’t want to stay.”

The private donor agreed to create a $3.4 million endowment that will fund the program’s operating and scholarship needs. The Lopers will play at Harmon Park and the new Ernest Grundy Tennis Center.

Shafer’s goal is to have a roster of 8-10 players for the beginning of the season next year, and has already started to recruit players. He hopes to get some verbal commitments and help create a winning culture and be a top 20 Division II ranked program.

“Personally, the team returning is a challenge to achieve what we were so close to having in 2018: A return to the Sweet 16, the D2 NCAA championships,” he said. “We were two sets away from making it to Nationals, but instead our season and tennis program ended that day on the middle court at Harmon Park. I want to get back to Nationals for all those guys we had to cut loose in 2018. It might not happen year one, but that’s one of my aims.”

UNK Director of Athletics Marc Bauer said during a news conference that discussions have been in place with the private donor since shortly after the program ended in 2018. He hopes to continue the successful history the men’s tennis program has had in the past.

“Although it will take some time to establish the program, I am confident the program is back and here to stay,” Bauer said.

Shafer first started at UNK in 2013 as an assistant coach, and was promoted to head coach in 2019. He and his wife have two children and live in Kearney.