Steve Brooks hired as head coach for women’s tennis at Redhawks

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri. – Steve Brooks was hired Monday as head coach of women’s tennis at Southeast Missouri. Brooks will be the 10th…th Head coach in program history.

Brooks comes to SEMO with more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 15 years at the NCAA Division I level.

“We are excited to welcome Steve to SEMO,” said Brady Barke, vice president of intercollegiate athletics. “His successful coaching experience combined with his familiarity with the Ohio Valley Conference will allow us to continue to grow our women’s tennis program.”

Prior to SEMO, Brooks served as an assistant coach at OVC member Tennessee State from 2022-2024, where he was responsible for budget, facilities and travel. Brooks helped the Tigers to a berth in the OVC Championship semifinals each of the last two years.

Prior to TSU, Brooks served as Director of Tennis/Pickleball Bristol Racquet & Fitness in Bristol, Tennessee for six years (2015–21).

He has head coaching experience, including one year as interim women’s tennis coach at Emory & Henry College (2019), nine seasons as head women’s tennis coach at East Tennessee State (2001-2010), and two years as head men’s tennis coach at The Citadel (1999-2001).

While at ETSU, Brooks led the Bucs to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. In each of his final five years in Johnson City, Brooks’ teams played in the finals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. His teams also boasted high academic honors with 60 Academic All-Conference nominations, 27 ITA Scholar-Athlete picks, six ITA All-Academic teams, one Fulbright Scholar and one NCAA Sportsmanship Award.

In addition to ETSU, Brooks has also coached at the University of Tennessee, the University of Arkansas and his alma mater, Carson-Newman College.

As a collegiate player, Brooks posted undefeated conference records in singles and doubles in all four years at Carson-Newman. Brooks was the winningest player in program history with 200 wins and was ranked eighth nationally in the NAIA in 1984.

A native of Jefferson City, Tennessee, Brooks earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Carson-Newman University in 1985 and a Masters in Recreation Administration from Tennessee in 1989.

Brooks takes over a SEMO program that has won three OVC regular season titles, two OVC tournament titles and two NCAA tournament appearances over the past four years.