Coach Kendall Brooks: Helm of The Texas State Tennis Program

Kendall Brooks was named the eighth head coach in the history of the Texas State tennis program on June 30, 2022. In her second season, Brooks led the Bobcats to an impressive overall record of 11-8, the best since 2011. Under her guidance, the team secured its highest seed in the Sun Belt Conference tournament (#8) since 2021 and achieved six road victories—its most since 2011. The Bobcats also enjoyed a nine-match winning streak, the longest since 2012.

Academically, the team earned its ninth consecutive ITA All-Academic Team honor, with five players recognized as ITA Scholar Athletes. In her first season, Brooks guided the team to an 8-15 record, marking the first eight-win season since 2017. The Bobcats reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship, including a shutout victory in the first round. She also led six players to seven or more singles wins, with two achieving double-digit victories.

Brooks joined the Texas State women's tennis staff as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2020-21 season before being promoted to assistant coach the following year. In her second season, she successfully recruited all newcomers, including All-Sun Belt Doubles Second Team honoree Kate Malazonia and Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Mae McCutcheon. Brooks helped the team reach the conference championship quarterfinals in both of her seasons as an assistant.

Prior to Texas State, Brooks spent seven years at St. Edward’s University, transforming the Hilltoppers into a perennial contender in the Heartland Conference and a consistent NCAA Tournament performer. Under her leadership, St. Edward’s won a conference championship in 2019, finishing as runner-up four times, and achieved a South Central Regional Championship. That season, the team also attained its highest national ranking at No. 16.

During her tenure at St. Edward’s, the team made five NCAA appearances, advancing to the Round of 16 in 2019—their deepest run in a decade. Brooks compiled a 93-53 record (.636 winning percentage) and produced 23 all-conference selections, two Regional Rookie of the Year award winners, 16 ITA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and one ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership National Award winner.

Before her time at St. Edward’s, Brooks served as the Director of Junior Development at the Austin Tennis Academy for seven years. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Texas Tech, where she was a four-year letterman and team captain in her final two seasons. During her tenure as an assistant from 2004 to 2006, the team was nationally ranked in the top 60 and achieved a 24-21 overall record.