ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western State University director of athletics Kurt McGuffin has announced Shawn Becker as the next head coach of the Griffon Women’s Tennis team. Becker will begin duties Aug. 31.
“As a staff we really liked that Shawn has been a sitting head coach at the Division II level and that his teams have steadily improved from year to year,” McGuffin said. “His national and international recruiting ties will really benefit us at MWSU.”
“He is known to be a strong advocate for the student-athlete experience and I know he will build upon the momentum we have had the last couple of years.”
Becker comes to MWSU from Philadelphia University where he was head men’s and women’s tennis coach since 2012. In his three seasons leading the Philadelphia University women’s team, Becker posted a 41-24 record, twice leading the program to its second most wins (15 in 2014-15 and 14 in 2013-14). Becker’s 2013-14 women’s team advanced to the conference tournament, a first since 2009 for the program. As men’s coach he led the program to two CACC postseason tournaments and went 26-33 overall. Becker was promoted to women’s head coach in May of 2012 and men’s coach in November that same year after serving as an assistant the previous two years.
He takes over a program that achieved new heights in 2014-15. The Griffon Women’s Tennis team finished the season 11-10 overall, going 4-6 in MIAA play and qualifying for the MIAA Postseason Tournament. The 11 wins were 10 more than the previous season and more than the previous three seasons combined. Meara Smith was named honorable mention All-MIAA at the No. 6 singles position, the program’s first All-MIAA selection in more than 10 years.
“This is an exciting opportunity for me to come into a situation where success is new and the momentum is to be built upon,” Becker said. The team made huge strides on the court last year, gaining credibility in the MIAA and the Central Region as well.”
“For me, it’s fresh faces and a new challenge in a different location, but with the same end goal; manufacture a tennis culture that benefits from healthy competition within the team, improvement on the court, and success in the classroom.” When these pieces align, our team will be a force to be reckoned with.”
In 2009, Becker was the head women’s tennis coach at Division III Rosemont College. He led the team to a 6-4 record in conference play and coached the Colonial States Athletic Conference player of the year. Becker also had experience coaching in the high school ranks and was an instructor at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Center in Philadelphia for three years.
Becker received his bachelor of science in health sciences from Philadelphia University in 2012 and an MBA in athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2014. He was a three-year letter winner at Lebanon Valley College from 2004-07. He totaled 69 wins and reached the finals of the 2006 Middle Atlantic Conference second doubles tournament.
— MWSU Athletics —